A Linear Programming Estimation Technique

There are up to five constraints involved in the estimation of software size.

Maximum manpower buildup parameter: There are limitiations on how fast one can add manpwer to a team.
Maximum Peak manpower
Minimum peak manpower
Contract delivery time
Budgeted time for development

Each of these constraints can be expressed in therms of equations involving total effort (K), development time (t_d), manyears/year (y'), and average cost per man year.

These constaints can be plotted as straight line on a log-log chart of effort vs development time. This will define a feasible region. It is essentially impossible to to operate at points outside this region.

[Picture of a feasible region]
A Picture of the feasible region. Taken from the book of Putnam and meyers.

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Last Changed: 14 October 1996