Homework 3: MedFRS Cost Estimation,
Due Wed 9/16 at 12pm (noon)
CSCI 510, Fall 2015
30 points
Preparation
Become familiar with EP-2: Chapter 2 of the COCOMO® II cost model book. Use Table 2.50
for the COCOMO® II cost estimation parameters.
Become familiar with Sections 5.4, 6.6, and 7.6 of the ICSM book. These describe the
Medical First Responder System (MedFRS) used as an example project using the ICSM.
Assignment
The total software portion of the $2 million budget for the initial operational capability of
the MedFRS system, excluding the deferred Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, is
$500K. To provide feasibility evidence of the $500K budget, Table 7-3 of the ICSM book
proposes a prototype of the new integrated patient-monitoring systems and 4G
communications on a single first-responder vehicle and one level 1 trauma center.
1. (15 points). Perform a COCOMO® II cost and schedule estimate for developing the
prototype, using the following parameters: a prototype size estimate of 5 KSLOC and
an average developer cost of $6K per person-month. The COCOMO® II parameter
ratings are all Nominal (round off the all-Nominal exponent to be 1.10) except for:
RELY: Low; since the prototype will not be operational
CPLX: High; some complex cross-device and external interfaces
ACAP: High; prototype needs top talent
PCAP: High; prototype needs top talent
APEX: High; prototypers familiar with medical field
PLEX: Low; prototypers unfamiliar with new devices
3 digit accuracy is sufficient.
(EAF = Effort Adjustment Factor = product of all effort multipliers.)
Solution for Prototype (15 points total):
Solution for Prototype EAF (3 points; give 0.5 points for each numerically correct effort
multiplier value):
EAF
= 0.92*1.17*0.85*0.88*0.88*1.09
= .7723
Solution for Prototype Effort (6 points = 3 for basic form of equation + 1 for “2.94” and
“1.10” + 2 for correct answer):
Prototype effort
= 2.94 * (5)1.10 * .772
= 13.33 person-months
Solution for Prototype Schedule (3 points = 2 for basic form of equation + 1 for correct
answer):
Prototype schedule (TDEV) = 3.67*(PM)^[0.28+0.2*(E-0.91)]
= 3.67* 13.33 ^[0.28+0.2*(1.10-0.91]
= 3.67 * 13.33^0.318
= 8.363 calendar months
Solution for Prototype Cost (3 points = 2 for basic form of equation + 1 for correct answer):
Prototype cost
= 13.33 * $6K
= $79.98K
= about $80K.
2. (15 points). Assume that the prototype has been successful. The prototype has
not only provided evidence of feasibility of the approach, but also has determined
the likely size of the full development to be 22 KSLOC, and provided evidence for
stronger ratings for the system’s complexity CPLX (now Nominal due to experience
with the prototype) and the team’s added platform experience PLEX (now High).
For the full system, perform a COCOMO® II cost and schedule estimate, assuming
that the average developer cost is still $6K per person-month, and the COCOMO II
parameter ratings are all Nominal (round off the all-Nominal exponent to be 1.10)
except for:
RELY: Very High; since the system needs to be safety-critical
ACAP: High; system needs top talent
PCAP: High; system needs top talent
APEX: High; developers familiar with medical field
PLEX: High; developers now familiar with new devices
Solution for System Development (15 points total):
Solution for EAF (3 points; 0.5 points for each numerically correct effort multiplier value,
plus 0.5 (because there are only 5 non-Nominal effort multipliers)):
EAF = 1.26 * 0.85 * 0.88 * 0.88 * 0.91
= .7547
Solution for System Development Effort (2 for basic form of equation + 1 for correct
answer):
System development effort = 2.94 * (22)1.10 * .755
= 66.52 person-months
Solution for System Development Schedule (2 for basic form of equation + 1 for correct
answer):
System development schedule (TDEV)
= 3.67*(PM)^[0.28+0.2*(E-0.91)]
= 3.67* 66.52^[0.28+0.2*(1.10-0.91]
= 3.67 * 66.52^0.318
= 13.94 calendar months.
Solution for System Development Cost (2 for basic form of equation + 1 for correct
answer):
System development cost = 66.52 * $6K
= $399.1K
= about $400K
Does the total cost of the prototype and full development fit within the $500K budget?
Approach to budget analysis (2 points):
Calculate total system cost and compare to budget (approach can be right, even if numbers
are wrong):
Total system cost= $80K + $400K = $480K < $500K budget.
Correct budget analysis result (1 point):
Total system cost fits within budget.
Grading notes:
 Show all of your work – the equations you used, the parameter and cost driver
values, intermediate steps, etc. The more work you show, the more partial credit
you will be able to receive.
 You must use the cost and schedule estimation equations from EP-2. You cannot use
the COCOMO® II program to provide the answers (though, you may use it to double
check your work). Note: you will not be able to use the COCOMO® program in
exams, hence, it will be more beneficial for you to apply the equations from EP-2.
 Note the D2L Discussion Board post “COCOMO: Assumptions for 510” under
Homework in General. The assumptions explained in the post apply to this
assignment.