Software Cost Estimation With Use Case Points - Free Excel Spreadsheet

We just completed a series of articles detailing how to use Use Case Points for software cost estimation. In this article we have a free MS Excel Spreadsheet for calculating use case points. Download it today to make it easier to do your project cost estimations.

Free Excel Spreadsheet Download

Download the use case point spreadsheet (zipped) for free today from Tyner Blain.

Background

This is the seventh article in a series on applying use case points to create reliable software cost estimates. What makes use case points different is that they allow the project cost estimation to happen much earlier in the process. This cost estimation technique was developed by Gustav Karner for Rational Software Corporation in the mid 1990’s.

The introduction to software cost estimation is the right place to start if you came to this article first. In the previous articles we discussed:

1. Technical Factors of the Implementation. Characterizing (non-functional) requirements of the software.
2. Environmental Factors. Describing the team and the process.
3. Use Case Quantity and Complexity. Representing what the software is asked to accomplish.
4. Actor Quantity and Complexity. Enumerating the users of the software.
5. Final Calculations. Doing the math.

The free excel spreadsheet in this article will do the math for you. It provides an easy way to organize (and edit) your estimates, and presents the final calculation results for you.

Using the Use Case Points Spreadsheet

The spreadsheet has five tabs, one for each area of data collection and processing. The tabs map directly to the individual articles in the series (linked above). Each tab also includes links back to the articles for future review.

To calculate the use case points, you only have to fill in the highlighted (yellow) cells in each tab of the spreadsheet. All of the math is done for you.

UCP Technical Complexity Factors

Enter the relative magnitude of each technical factor. Brief descriptions of each factor are included for quick reference.

UCP Environment Factors

Enter the relative weightings of the environmental factors for the project. Brief descriptions are included for reference.

UCP Use Case Analysis

Enter the names and complexity of each use case.

Note that the complexity values are selected from a drop-down instead of being typed in. This allows for automatic calculation, just from listing the use cases.

UCP Actor Analysis

Enter the names and types of all actors that will use the system.

The actor analysis section also uses a drop-down to select the type of actor.

UCP Final Calculation

Return to the final calculation tab at the front of the spreadsheet.

All of the work has been done for you. If you want to use a different ratio for converting from use case points to hours of effort, just change the highlighted value.

Conclusion

This concludes our series on software cost estimation with use case points. With this free excel spreadsheet, you don’t have an excuse for not calculating the use case points on your project. The time you will invest is minimal. The value may be substantial.

This article was published on Tuesday, February 20th, 2007 at 10:03 pm and is filed under Business Analysis, Product Management, Project Management, Requirements, Requirements Models, Use Cases.
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