Methods for Software Complexity and Development Effort Estimation and its Importance in the Area of ICT Governance

Organization Background

Early SW systems were often developed uncontrolled without consideration about costs of its development and implementation. For that reason the development was not finished timely or costs of system implementation exceeded original estimations. The proper estimations of costs were finally enabled by emerging of methodical approaches of system design. For public information systems is important the public funds were spent efficiently and the utility of public information systems for grass roots was as high as possible. The main specific of public information systems is a fact that they are primarily not created for the purpose of increasing of company’s profit, but for the purpose of providing public services to citizens. They should simplify the contact between citizens and government.

This case summarises current knowledge related to effort estimations constructed in early phases of IS development project. These estimations enable to make decisions, wheatear to invest money in the project or not. The case contains knowledge, experience and results of researches of several authors, who are on a long-term basis involved in the area of effort estimations.

This case does not describe a particular solution in comparison with others. It follows one selected, but quite important problem “automation” of public administration, concretely cost estimation for information support of public administration’s projects. It summarizes authors’ experience from various projects, in which authors have participated as resolvers or submitters. Next authors’ experience is from pedagogical work at the universities including cooperation with postdoctoral students. Finally it includes experience from international standardization on the level of standardization authority - ISO/IEC JTC1 (Join technical committee for Information technology) and its subcommittee SC7 (System and Software Engineering), where one of the authors has worked as a representative of Czechoslovakia and as a representative of Czech Republic since 1993. His main role is a coeditor of international standards.

Next authors’ background consists of long experience with leading of project in the area of development of operation systems and base software for mainframe computers, then experience with public procurements and management of many government and public projects in the area of public administration and government, especially for Government office for public information systems of Czech Republic and later for Ministry of Informatics of Czech Republic.

Currently, authors’ research activities are based on projects for Czech Ministry of Education: Grant No. MSM 6046070904 ‘‘Information and knowledge support of strategic control” and Grant No.2C06004 ‘‘Intelligent tools for content assessment of relevance of general and specialized data and knowledge resources”.