Constructive Cost Model

programming (COCOMO) A method for evaluating the cost of a

software package proposed by Dr Barry Boehm. There are a

number of different types:

The Basic COCOMO Model estimates the effort required to

develop software in three modes of development (OrganicMode, Semidetached Mode, or Embedded Mode) using only

DSIs as an input. The Basic model is good for quick, early,

and rough order of magnitude estimates.

The Intermediate COCOMO Model an extension of the Basic COCOMO

model. The Intermediate model uses an Effort AdjustmentFactor (EAF) and slightly different coefficients for the

effort equation than the Basic model. It produces better

results than the Basic model because the user supplies

settings for cost drivers that determine the effort and

duration of the software projects. The Intermediate model

also allows the system to be divided and estimated in

components. DSI values and cost drivers can be chosen for

individual components instead of for the system as a whole.

The Detailed COCOMO Model differs from the Intermediate COCOMO

model in that it uses effort multipliers for each phase of the

project. These phase dependent effort multipliers yield

better estimates because the cost driver ratings may be

different during each phase. The detailed model also provides

a three-level product hierarchy and has some other

capabilities such as a procedure for adjusting the phase

distribution of the development schedule.

["Software Engineering Economics", B. Boehm, Prentice-Hall,

1981].

(1996-05-29)