Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

Definition:-
B.W. Boehm Introduced COCOMO model in his book
Software Engineering Economics in 1981 COCOMO is a
hierarchy of cost estimation models it includes basic ,
intermediate and detailed sub model.
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

Types
Of
COCOMO

Intermediate Detailed
Basic Model
Model COCOMO Model
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

The basic model aims at estimating, in a quick and rough

fashion, most of the small to medium sized software projects.
Three modes of software development are considered in this
model:
Organic: A small team of experienced developers develops
software in a very familiar environment.
Embedded: The project has tight constraints, which might be
related to the target processor.
Semidetached: It is an intermediate mode between the organic
mode and embedded mode.

Depending on the problem at hand, the team might include a

mixture of experienced and less experienced people with only a
recent history of working together.
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)
Comparison of three COCOMO modes
Mode Project Nature of Innovation Deadline Development
Size Project of the Environment
Project
Organic Typically Small Size Little Not tight Familiar And In
2 – 50 Projects, house
KLOC experienced
developers.

Semi- Typically Medium size Medium Medium Medium

Detached 50 – 300 project, average
KLOC previous
experience on
similar projects.

Embedded Typically Large projects, Significant Tight Complex

over 300 complex Hardware /
KLOC interfaces, very Customer
little previous interfaces
experience. required
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)
The Basic COCOMO equations take the
E = effort
form: D = Deployment time
E = ab (KLOC)bb SS = staff size
P = productivity
D = cb (E)db
SS = E/D persons ab ,bb ,cb ,db = Coefficients
P = KLOC/E

Basic COCOMO Co- efficients

Project ab bb cb db

Organic mode 2.4 1.05 2.5 0.38

Semidetached mode 3.0 1.12 2.5 0.35

Embedded mode 3.6 1.20 2.5 0.32

Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

Example :
Suppose that a project was estimated to be 400 KLOC.
Calculate the effort and development time for each of the three
modes i.e. organic , semidetached and embedded.
Solution The basic COCOMO equations take the form:
E = ab (KLOC)bb
D = cb (E)db
Estimated size of the project = 400 KLOC
1. Organic Mode
E = 2.4 (400)1.05 = 1295.31 PM
D = 2.5 (1295.31)0.38 = 38.07 M
2. Semi detached Mode
E = 3.0 (400)1.12 = 2462.79 PM
D = 2.5 (2462.79)0.35 = 38.45 M
3. Embedded Mode
E = 3.6 (400)1.20 = 4772.81 PM
D = 2.5 (4772.81)0.32 = 37.59 M
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

In the Intermediate model Boehm introduced an additional set of

15 predictors called cost drivers in the intermediate model to
take account of the software development environment. Cost
drivers are used to adjust the nominal cost of a project to the
actual project environment, hence increasing the accuracy of the
estimate.
The cost drivers are grouped into 4 categories:-
1. Product attributes
a. Required software reliability (RELY)
b. Database size (DATA)
c. Product complexity (CPLX)
2. Computer attributes
a. Execution time constraint (TIME)
b. Main store constraint (STOR)
c. Virtual machine volatility (VIRT)
d. Computer turnaround time (TURN)
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

3. Personnel attributes
a. Analyst capability (ACAP)
b. Application experience (AEXP)
c. Programmer capability (PCAP)
d. Virtual machine experience (VEXP)
e. Programming Language experience (LEXP)
4. Project attributes
a. Morden programming practices (MODP)
b. Use of software tool (TOOL)
c. Required development schedule (SCED)

Each cost driver is rated for a given project environment. The

rating uses a scale very low, low, nominal, high, very high, extra
high which describes to what extent the cost driver applies to
the project being estimated.
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

Multiplier Values
For
Effort Calculations

Ratings
Cost Drivers Very Low Nominal High Very Extra
Low High High
Product attributes
RELY 0.75 0.88 1.00 1.15 1.40 -
DATA - 0.94 1.00 1.08 1.16 -
CPLX 0.70 0.85 1.00 1.15 1.30 1.65
Computer attributes
TIME - - 1.00 1.11 1.30 1.66
STOR - - 1.00 1.06 1.21 1.56
VIRT - 0.87 1.00 1.15 1.30 -
TURN - 0.87 1.00 1.07 1.15 -
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

Multiplier Values
For
Effort Calculations
Ratings
Cost Drivers Very Low Nominal High Very Extra
Low High High
Personnel attributes
ACAP 1.46 1.19 1.00 0.86 0.71 -
AEXP 1.29 1.13 1.00 0.91 0.82 -
PCAP 1.42 1.17 1.00 0.86 0.70 -
VEXP 1.21 1.10 1.00 0.90 - -
LEXP 1.14 1.07 1.00 0.95 - -
Project attributes
MODP 1.24 1.10 1.00 0.91 0.82 -
TOOL 1.24 1.10 1.00 0.91 0.83 -
SCED 1.23 1.08 1.00 1.04 1.10 -
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

The Intermediate COCOMO EAF = Effort Adjustment

equations take the form: factor
E = ai (KLOC)bi * EAF E = effort
D = Deployment time
D = ci (E)di SS = staff size
SS = E/D persons P = productivity
P = KLOC/E ai , bi , ci , di = Coefficients

Co- efficients for Intermediate COCOMO

Project ai bi ci di

Organic mode 3.2 1.05 2.5 0.38

Semidetached mode 3.0 1.12 2.5 0.35

Embedded mode 2.8 1.20 2.5 0.32

Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)
Example :
A new project with estimated 400 KLOC embedded system has to be developed. Project
manager has a choice of hiring from two pools of developers : with very high application
experience and very little experience in the programming language being used or
developers of very low application experience but a lot of experience with the
programming language. What is the impact of hiring all developers from one or the other
pool.
Solution
This is the case of embedded mode
Hence E = ai (KLOC)bi * EAF D = ci (E)di
Case 1: Developers are with very high application experience and very little experience
in the programming language being used.
EAF = 0.82 *1.14 = 0.9348
E = 2.8(400)1.20 * 0.9348 = 3470 PM
D = 2.5 (3470)0.32 = 33.9 M
Case 2: developers of very low application experience but a lot of experience with the
programming language.
EAF = 1.29*0.95 = 1.22
E = 2.8 (400)1.20 *1.22 = 4528PM
D = 2.5 (4528)0.32 = 36.9 M
Case 2 requires more effort and time. Hence, low quality application experience but a lot
of programming language experience could not match with the very high application
experience and very little programming language experience.
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

A large amount of work is done by Boehm to capture all

significant aspects of a software development. It offers a means
for processing all the project characteristics to construct a
software estimate.
Capabilities
Of
Detailed Model

Phase-Sensitive Three-Level
Effort Multipliers Product Hierarchy
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

Phase-Sensitive Effort Multipliers:

Some phases (design, programming, integration/test) are more
affected than others by factors defined by the cost drivers. This
helps in determining the man power allocation for each phase of
the project.

Three-Level Product Hierarchy:-

Three product levels are defined. These are module, subsystem
and system levels. The rating of the cost drivers are done at
appropriate level; that is, the level at which it is most susceptible
to variation.
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

A software development is carried out in four successive

phases:-
1. Plan/ requirements: This is the first phase of the
development cycle. The requirement is analyzed, the
product plan is set up and a full product specification is
generated. This phase consumes from 6% to 8% of the
effort and 10% to 40% of the development time.

2. Product Design: The second phase of the COCOMO

development cycle is concerned with the determination of
the product architecture and the specification of the
subsystem. This phase requires from 16% to 18% of the
nominal effort and can last from 19% to 38% of the
development time.
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

3. Programming: The third phase of the COCOMO

development cycle is divided into two sub phases: detailed
design and code/unit test. This phase requires from 48% to
68% of the effort and lasts from 24% to 64% of the
development time.

4. Integration/test: This phase of the COCOMO development

cycle occurs before delivery. This mainly consist of putting
the tested parts together and then testing the final product
this phase requires from 16% to 34% of the nominal effort
and can last from 18% to 34% of the development time.
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

Effort and schedule fractions occurring in each phase of lifecycle

Plan and System Detail Module Integratio
Mode and code size requirem design design code and n and test
ent test

Lifecycle Phase Value of µb

Organic Small S ≈ 2 0.06 0.16 0.26 0.42 0.16
Organic Medium S ≈ 32 0.06 0.16 0.24 0.38 0.22
Semidetached Medium S ≈ 32 0.07 0.17 0.25 0.33 0.25
Semidetached Large S ≈ 128 0.07 0.17 0.24 0.31 0.28
Embedded Large S ≈ 128 0.08 0.18 0.25 0.26 0.31
Embedded Extra Large S ≈ 320 0.08 0.18 0.24 0.24 0.34
Lifecycle Phase Value of b

Organic Small S ≈ 2 0.10 0.19 0.24 0.39 0.18

Organic Medium S ≈ 32 0.12 0.19 0.21 0.34 0.26
Semidetached Medium S ≈ 32 0.20 0.26 0.21 0.27 0.26
Semidetached Large S ≈ 128 0.22 0.27 0.19 0.25 0.29
Embedded Large S ≈ 128 0.36 0.36 0.18 0.18 0.28
Embedded Extra Large S ≈ 320 0.40 0.38 0.16 0.16 0.30
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

EAF = Effort Adjustment factor

The Detailed COCOMO
E = effort
equations take the form: D = Deployment time
SS = staff size
E = ai (KLOC)bi * EAF P = productivity
D = ci (E)di µp = Used for effort
p = Used for schedule
Ep = µpE
Dp = pD
SS = E/D persons
P = KLOC/E
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)
Example :
Consider a project to develop a full screen editor. The major components
identified are (1) Screen edit, (2) Command Language Interpreter, (3) File
input and output, (4) Cursor movement and (5) Screen movement. The sizes
for these are estimated to be 4K, 2K, 1K, 2K and 3K delivered source code
lines. Use COCOMO model to determine:
(a) Overall cost and schedule estimates (assume values for different cost
drivers, with at least three of them being different from 1.0).
(b) Cost and schedule estimates for different phases.
Solution
Size of 5 modules are:-
Screen edit = 4KLOC
Command Language Interpreter = 2KLOC
File input and output = 1KLOC
Cursor movement and = 2KLOC
Screen movement = 3KLOC
total = 12KLOC
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

Let us assume that significant cost drivers are

(1) Required software reliability is high i.e. 1.15
(2) Product complexity is high i.e. 1.15
(3) Analyst capability is high i.e. 0.86
(4) All other drivers are nominal i.e. 1.00
Hence
EAF = 1.15 * 1.15 * 0.86 = 1.1373
(a) The initial effort estimate for the project
E = ai (KLOC)bi * EAF
=3.2(12)1.05 * 1.1373 = 49.449 PM
D = ci (E)di
= 2.5(49.44)0.38 = 11.007 M
Topic :- Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO)

(b) Phase wise cost and schedule estimates

Ep = µpE
Dp = pD
Since size is only 12 KLOC, it is an organic small model.
Phase wise effort distribution is given below:
System Design = 0.16 * 49.449 = 7.911
Detailed Design = 0.26 * 49.449 = 12.856
Module code and test = 0.42 * 49.449 = 20.768
Integration and test = 0.16 * 49.449 = 7.911
Phase wise development time duration is:
System Design = 0.19 * 11.007 = 2.091
Detailed Design = 0.24 * 11.007 = 2.641
Module code and test = 0.39 * 11.007 = 4.292
Integration and test = 0.18 * 11.007 = 1.981