Solution
The correct answer is Constructive cost model.
Key PointsThe COCOMO (Constructive Cost Model) is a procedural cost estimate model for software projects that was first published by Barry W. Boehm in 1981. The model proposes an estimation of project cost, effort, and schedule when designing and developing large-scale technical projects. The COCOMO consists of a hierarchy of three increasingly detailed and accurate forms. The characteristics of the model are used for project and strategic management purposes, cost estimation, and software budgeting.
- Basic COCOMO Model: This is a static, single-valued model that computes software development effort and cost as a function of program size expressed in estimated thousands of lines of code (KLOC). It is good for quick, early, rough order of magnitude estimates of software costs, but its accuracy is limited due to its lack of factors to account for difference in project environments.
- Intermediate COCOMO Model: This model provides an estimate that is more detailed than the Basic COCOMO. It takes into account a set of "cost drivers" that reflect the characteristics of the project and can influence the effort and time required. These cost drivers include aspects like process complexity, software reliability, and personnel expertise. The impact of the cost drivers is considered for each phase of the software development process.
- Detailed COCOMO Model: This extends the Intermediate COCOMO and adds an assessment of the influence of different project parameters on each step like planning, product design, programming, testing, etc. This model emphasizes the factors contributing to the success or failure of projects at a granular level.
In essence, COCOMO is a powerful tool for predicting not just the cost but also the timeline and the effort required for software development by taking a variety of factors into account. It is often used during planning stages of a project to determine if a particular software proposal is worthwhile taking forward.
