Architecture based software system cost estimation

Abstract

Personal Integrated Process (PIP) is the extended form of Personal Software Process (PSP). Processes for software architecture design and evaluation are integrated in the PIP. The PIP process is supported by a software quality management system. This paper highlights the detail for estimation of cost for software development and process improvement. The software cost can neither be estimated by counting lines of code alone nor by measuring time in software development alone. Therefore, this paper proposes an integrated process for software system cost estimation. Finally, the impact of integration of architecture design and evaluation on cost and schedule is determined. The scope of this paper is to highlights results of impact of architecture design and evaluation on cost. 15% cost of software development is associated with architecture design and evaluation activities. This investment is quite reasonable and helped in precise estimation of project cost and schedule.