Posted by But Wait, There’s More! Using SiSE for your Cost, Schedule & Performance Needs
From the Journal of Cost Analysis and Parametrics: Volume 10 | Issue 2 | April 2022
Downloadable File: JCAPv10i2-UsingSiSEforCostSchedulePerformance-Mann
Abstract: Software cost estimating is a challenging effort when there is little information known about a program early in the lifecycle. Historically, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has had difficulty in properly sizing software development efforts for Life Cycle Cost Estimates (LCCEs). In 2017, the DHS Cost Analysis Division piloted the Simple Function Point Analysis (SFPA) methodology, later renamed to Simple Software Estimation (SiSE), tying high level requirements in existing Acquisition documentation to a standard sizing metric. After demonstrating successes with several programs, additional value of SiSE results for program management beyond cost estimating was explored. This paper and presentation will cover the SiSE methodology, requirements definition and analysis, and how functional size can be used to effectively manage program cost, schedule, and performance. We will use real DHS programs, policies, and lessons learned to demonstrate the benefits of SiSE as a secret ingredient for program management success and describe how to engage with program managers to employ this tool in their programs. Finally, we will discuss our future research efforts and initiatives to implement SiSE across federal acquisitions. We believe this to be an innovative and exciting way to estimate and manage software development programs in any organization.
Authors:
Katharine Mann, CCEA, is an Operations Research Analyst for the Department of Homeland Security, Cost Analysis Division (CAD) IT / Agile Software Development Team. Before joining DHS, Ms. Mann supported the NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) in Brussels, Belgium, and various DoD programs. She is the Outreach Chair of the Washington Capital Area Chapter of ICEAA and Secretary of the Joint Agile Software Innovation (JASI) Government IPT. Ms. Mann has Undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech.
Ryan Hoang, CCEA, is an Operations Research Analyst for the Department of Homeland Security, Cost Analysis Division (CAD), IT / Agile Software Development Team. Since 2015, he has provided cost support to many major IT acquisition programs across DHS. He has B.S. and M.Eng. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University.