ABSTRACT
Information technology projects involving the development of either web or software applications need to be managed effectively, so that their associated applications can be delivered on time and within budget. One of the main aspects of effective project management is the use of sound effort estimates. A sound effort estimate represents a realistic estimate of the amount of effort (in person hours) needed to develop a web or software application. Once obtained, this estimate is used as a basis to predict project costs and to allocate resources (e.g., developers) to a project. An effort estimate is generally derived taking into account the following input: (1) the characteristics of the new project and the corresponding application to be developed; and (2) the characteristics of previous “similar” projects and corresponding applications, for which actual effort is known. Note that the project and application characteristics employed herein are only those assumed to be relevant in determining effort.
