CSC712 - Questions on Chapter 10 – Project Management

A number of metrics can be used in the project planning process or in assessing if a

product has met its requirements.

1.
(a) One such technique is Function Point Analysis. This can be used to estimate the size
of a proposed software system. Describe the rationale for this technique and indicate
some of the benefits it offers over other approaches to size and cost estimation.

(b) The specification for a spelling checker program is as follows:

The checker accepts two external inputs: a document file name and a personal
dictionary file name; these refer to the two external files used by the system. The
major output of the checker is a list of misspelt words, i.e. all words not contained
in either the dictionary or personal dictionary files. Two other outputs are a
‘number of words processed’ message and ‘number of words used from personal
dictionary’ message. At any point in the checking process, the user can query the
number of words processed and the number of spelling errors. The standard
dictionary file used by the checker is considered an internal logical file.

The complexity of each data type is rated average, except ‘standard dictionary file’
and ‘list of misspelt words’ which are considered complex.

(i) On this basis, calculate the unadjusted function point value for the spelling
checker. (Use the weightings given in the table below).

ITEM WEIGHTING FACTOR

simple average complex
External input 3 4 6
External output 4 5 7
User inquiry 3 4 6
External file 7 10 15
Internal file 5 7 10

(ii) Calculate an adjusted function point value for the spelling checker where the total
Degree of Influence is 28.

2.
a) Explain the importance of cost estimation in software development.
(3 marks)
b) Function point analysis is a useful tool in software cost estimation.
i) You are given a requirements specification for an on-line club
membership system. On examination of the requirements
 specification, using function point analysis, you assess the software
specification components as follows:

Inputs: 4 simple, 4 average and 2 complex.

Outputs: 7 average
Enquiries: 10 average, 3 complex
Master files: 4 average
Interfaces: 4 simple, 4 complex

With the aid of the table below, determine the number of

unadjusted function points.

COMPONENT COMPLEXITY LEVEL

simple average complex
Input 3 4 6
Output 4 5 7
Inquiry 3 4 6
Internal File 7 10 15
Interface 5 7 10

(4 marks)
ii) If the total degree of influence is 45 determine the number of
function points.
(4 marks)
c) COCOMO is another useful tool in cost estimation.
i) Describe the three classes of project in COCOMO.
(3 marks)
ii) Using the COCOMO method: If the number of delivered source
code instructions is 162,000 and the value of the constants a, b and
c in the Basic COCOMO model for this project are determined to
be 3.0 and 1.10, 0.32 respectively, what is the total effort in person
months and total development time?
(4 marks)
iii) The values for a, b and c in the Basic COCOMO model can change
from project to project as can the parameters in the intermediate
version of COCOMO. Why should this be so?
(2 marks)

3.
a) Produce a Network analysis chart including all ES, EF, LS, LF and F for the following
system. What is the critical path?

Task Duration Predecessors

A 10 NONE
B 12 A
C 5 A
D 13 A
E 10 B,C
F 11 E
G 10 F
H 10 G

b) Produce a Gantt chart for this.