THE RESEARCH HEREIN PROPOSED IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF ESTIMATING SOFTWARE COSTS OVER THE LIFE OF LARGE AND COMPLEX SOFTWARE PROJETS.

THE RESEARCH HEREIN PROPOSED IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF ESTIMATING SOFTWARE COSTS OVER THE LIFE OF LARGE AND COMPLEX SOFTWARE PROJETS. THE RESEARCH WILL ADDRESS ALL FACTORS THAT AFFECT SOFTWARE COSTS FROM A FUNCTIONAL STANDPOINT AS OPPOSED TO THE TRADITIONAL LINES-OF-CODE (PROGRAM SIZE) APPROACH. THE FACTORS WILL BE TRANSLATED INTO A MODEL THAT EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUDING ANALYSIS FACTORS IN LARGE SOFTWARE PROJECT COST ESTIMATION. IF MORE INFORMATION ELATING TO INTENDED SYSTEM FUNTIONS (WITH APPLIED COST FACTORS) IS KNOWN AT PROJECT INCEPTION, SOFTWARE COSTS WILL BE MORE ACCUATE THROUGHOUT THE SOFTWARE LIFE CYCLE. ALL FACTORS AFFECTING SOFTWARE COST WILL BE ANALYZED AND THE RESULTS INCLUDED IN A REPORT THAT WILL BE THE FOUNDATION FOR A NEW SOFTWARE COST ESTIMATE MODEL.