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Title: Cost Estimator's Reference Manual (New Dimensions In Engineering Series)
ISBN: 0471305103
Author:
Publicate Date: 1995-03
Publish: 1995-03
List Price: $235.00
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $175.00
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $244.75
Amazon Merchant Price: $188.00
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| Customer Review: |
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1: If I could give this book 6 stars I would
I got ahold of this book because of its section on valuations of learning curves, but when I read it, I found much more inside than I had any reason to hope for.
First, there's a brilliant chapter on Risk Analysis. I particularly like the sentence that says: "All risk analysis techniques...are based on expert opinion." This is quite true and insightful. This book is the first place I have seen that fact admitted to and then addressed.
There are three chapters that can be applied to computer system development estimations:
1. Software Development Effort Estimating
2. The Software Acquisition Process
3. Software LifeCycle Cost Estimation
4. Implications of systems/Concurrent Engineering
This book is an easy read yet explains a number of very knotty cost valuations in a way that can be understood and applied by people trying to evaluate potential costs. The chapters include BASIC programs that could be used to automate the calculations or be converted into spreadsheet macros. I found the programs extremely helpful for further understaning the implications and applications of the text.
Despite its great cost, this book remains a good value because its coverage of the above subjects would cost more if bought in separate books. The code samples showing the application of these concepts puts the book well ahead of the others.
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2: many practical details for estimating
The book is now 11 years old, but scarcely outdated. The authors write for an engineering manager, who has to estimate the myriad costs in a project. The fundamentals are still unchanged, needless to say. The first chapter gives a recap of these fundamentals. Including estimating labour and materials. And then being able to factor in an overhead for administrative costs.
The book also tackles the tricky issue of indirect costs, and how to allocate these to a flow of jobs. There is also a chapter on simple statistical analysis. Describing parametric tests and various predictive methods like regression analysis. If you find that you need this material, consider later getting a text devoted to it. There's a lot more in the subject than covered here.
A later chapter covers the estimates involved in running a software project. Again, there are more detailed texts devoted to this important topic. But the book gives a good overview. Including dealing with a life cycle for maintaining code.
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