Estimating

A dominant complaint from the continuing "software crisis" is the inability to estimate software development cost, schedule and resources with acceptable accuracy.  Most development effort begin with unrealistic cost, schedule, and cost expectations, then deteriorate rapidly by misallocating resources to maintain these illusions.  Estimate accuracy is directly related to estimating model realism.

SEI has over 25 years of experience in estimation consulting work. Our efforts have included original and recovery estimates, expert witness support for troubled or failed projects, template development, training, and ongoing management support.

SEI's primary consulting activities include working with clients to plan and support large software product acquisitions.  This work can involve third party estimates and contractor evaluation.  

SEI has been a pioneer in the development and application of real-time systems analysis and design methods since 1975.  The methods used by SEI incorporate both functional and object-based development approaches according to SEI's belief that no system is entirely function- or object-based.  This approach allows great flexibility in adapting the methods to the problem, rather than adapting the problem to the method.