Assess Reasonableness of the Estimates

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="3" width=170 BGCOLOR="#000099" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="02ebbc00erkqpg.jpg"> <div> Return to <A HREF="est_proc_over.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Overview of Process for Estimating Syste">Overview of Estimating Process</A></div> <div> ----------------------------------</div> <div> <A HREF="def_sys_scope_bound.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Define System Scope and Boundaries"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8cccccc00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Define System Scope and Boundaries</A></div> <div> <A HREF="ident_hlrs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Identify High Level Requirements (HLRs)"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8cccccc00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Identify High Level Requirements (HLRs)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="est_ilrs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Estimate The Number of ILRs"><IMG 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Estimates</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=60 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Assess Reasonableness of the Estimates</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=396 width="100%" colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Several techniques are available to assess the reasonableness of the testable requirements estimates.  This assessment is recommended to refine the estimate and get buy-in from the other project team members.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="587" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="149"><div> <B>Technique</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 WIDTH="419"><div> <B>Benefit</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 HEIGHT= 66 WIDTH="149"><div> Review with Peers</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 WIDTH="419"><div> To assess the reasonableness of the estimate once it is prepared or even during the preparation process, review can highlight omissions, errors, unrealistic assumptions, etc.  Review can also help achieve agreement and support among other team members for the estimate.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 HEIGHT= 49 WIDTH="149"><div> Compare with Available History</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 WIDTH="419"><div> If comparable history of size measurements from other projects is available, it can be very useful to assess the reasonableness of the estimate.  It may also point out areas that may have been overlooked.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 HEIGHT= 49 ><NOBR><div> Evaluate Confidence Level</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 WIDTH="419"><div> The estimator's review of the estimate is also valuable.  The areas in which the estimator has less confidence in the estimates are likely to be the areas to be highlighted as risk areas.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 HEIGHT= 66 ><NOBR><div> Justify with Assumptions</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 WIDTH="419"><div> Comparing the assumptions to the estimates can show where the assumptions support the estimates or where more explanation is warranted.  This assessment can also point out additional undocumented assumptions.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 HEIGHT= 66 WIDTH="149"><div> Compare Relative Size of HLRs</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 WIDTH="419"><div> If during the review of the estimate, an HLR that was assumed to be relatively small requires a larger number of testable requirements than expected, it should be examined.  This may be a project management perception issue, or the requirements are actually under or over stated.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 HEIGHT= 82 WIDTH="149"><div> Evaluate Risk</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 WIDTH="419"><div> Risks are highlighted by illustrating areas of the system that are poorly defined, and/or areas where the size is out of proportion with the other estimates or is unexpected.  Furthermore, testing coverage should be aligned with risk by identifying areas where the planned testing coverage does not reflect the relative risk levels of the requirements.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=24 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="doc_assum.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Document Sizing Assumptions"><B><IMG SRC="02711110.png" border=0 width="17" height="17" ALT="prev" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A><B> </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="17" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="17"><B>     </B><A HREF="est_proc_over.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Overview of Process for Estimating Syste"><B><IMG SRC="02611110.png" border=0 width="17" height="17" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" 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