Early software project estimation the six sigma way

Abstract

The Buglione-Trudel matrix is a tool that provides agile teams with immediate feedback whether their priorities meet customer needs. Functional size measurement yields a transfer function mapping user stories to Functional User Requirements (FUR), and business impact of non-functional requirements yield another transfer function mapping the same user stories onto customer’s Business Drivers. Normally, transfer functions in Six Sigma are based on measurements; however, they can be predicted with the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method, applicable early in the project life cycle and based on expert’s estimation rather than measurements. The Convergence Gap indicates prediction accuracy. These tools allow early project estimation by predicting what agile teams likely will identify as additional requirements for the customer during the sprints, based on his values and business drivers. Precondition is that business drivers and an initial set of customer’s FUR are known when estimating the project. As an added benefit, the method allows mapping story points to functional size and in a second step, to effort, based on benchmarking data.