Function Point Analysis Using a Spreadsheet? – "Bad Idea!"
Some History
When I first started out in my little two man business
– soon to become a one man business – I was quite capable of managing the
accounts on a spreadsheet. Well, sort of. I also hired a retired
accountant-cum-bookkeeper who dutifully transferred these accounts to a REAL
set of accounts. This meant Ledgers – physical books – all of which
beautifully balanced out at some mysterious point.
But as CHARISMATEK grew and our business operations
diversified – and taxation ‘opportunities’ magnified – we found that this
custom personal spreadsheet style of accounting management was not
appropriate. Although our business is not huge, it is diverse and
operates in a high risk, dynamic market place. The concept of trying
to account for and manage such an operation without tools custom built for
the purpose by experts (ie accounting packages) is ludicrous. We
simply would not consider wasting the time of our experts on custom
designing and building our own accounting software. In the unlikely
event that we determined that no existing software met the purpose, we most
certainly would not propose a spreadsheet environment as an effective
alternative (although we might add one or two spreadsheet reports to the
mix).
Finding an Effective Solution
Accounting is more than just backtracking the money –
it is about knowing the status of the business at any point in time.
Accounting within a software development environment is no different.
Yes, it is relatively complex, with more variables and subjective impacts.
Which is why one needs good support – tools which enable the basic
software to be defined and measured in a manner which links directly to cost
forecasts. You might wish to add one or two spreadsheet reports to the mix –
but it is the Function Point WORKBENCH™ which provides the core basis for:
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Greater Consistency of Definition
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Performing and Recording Functional Sizing
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Improved Communication between Business and IT
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Analysis of Risk
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Review and Benchmarking of Productivity
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Change Impact Assessment
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Scope Management and Scope Control
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Formalised, Repeatable and Consistent Estimating
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Establishment of optimum Development process (SDLC)
The Function Point WORKBENCH™
provides for a comprehensive software model containing, integrating and/or
linking to all critical information. Unlimited potential for analysis and
reporting provide a flexible tool designed to leverage the power of a
quantified functional software model.
What About A Spreadsheet?
Most spreadsheets purported to be for Function Point
Analysis are actually summary sheets for collating and summing function
point counts. Some do provide the capability to input a description,
mark a box (or three) and perform a calculation of the resultant function
points.
And, if you don’t think about it for terribly long, a
spreadsheet can seem an ideal place to establish a data repository with some
relatively simple calculations and summations. Even setting one up is
relatively easy – just allow one line for each transaction, set aside a text
description area plus Simple/Average/Complex columns under each transaction
type, some basic arithmetic and … voila! … a documented function point
count. Sort of.
But… have you got the files right? Shouldn’t you
do some kind of check about how/where they are used? How are you going
to keep track of changes to the transactions ….and what changes that might
mean to data files? Or vice versa. You could simply do a new
count at each stage of change and compare them. But…..that creates
HUGE room for error, makes counting inconsistencies a MASSIVE problem – and
is a significant overhead cost on the project.
Perhaps if you build some HELP for the Counters – give
them built-in guidance on how to count? Like the Function Point
WORKBENCH™? And from where would you 'borrow’ that expert advice?
It had better be the right advice. What about enhancement projects?
That is a whole new set of processes.
Of course, you know that as soon as you start supplying
information to Project Managers – they want the lot. They will want to
know the size at requirements signoff – and what it is now! And where
was the difference? How big is Release One? How much is in Java?
If you have gone this far down the spreadsheet path,
you are beginning to realise that you need to start analysing and
documenting requirements properly if you really are going to build this
thing. And you have already spent more than you planned.
You now know that you would be a lot more advanced – a
lot farther down the trail – if you had just bought the WORKBENCH in the
first place. As recommended. Of course.
The Function Point WORKBENCH™ is a part of the process,
not an overhead on the process. The WORKBENCH offers a visual modelling
capability that provides substantial power to investigate, analyse and
explore alternative development strategies. It is the basis for client
focussed software definition.
The Function Point WORKBENCH™ – The Tool of Choice
The Function Point WORKBENCH™ is the tool of choice for all major
consultants in this field throughout the world. These include SPR-Artemis,
the David Consulting Group, Quality Plus Technologies, SMS and Longstreet
Consulting in the USA; Lalcrest and Compass in the UK, Metric Consult in
Europe, along with Quantimetrics (Europe and South Africa); and in
Australia, CHARISMATEK Software Metrics and our serious competitors all
exclusively use the Function Point WORKBENCH™.
These are the people who do most of the worlds software sizing
– and they
use the WORKBENCH. Simply because it is far better than ANY alternative.
If you are using a consultant who does not have the
Function Point WORKBENCH™, you are being short-changed.
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