These questions are based on the UST, Inc manufacturing control system (MCS) software project example discussed in section 2.6, "Using COCOMO™ II for Software Decisions", of the COCOMO™ II book (pp. 59-68). Study the example and the various decision analyses first; the three homework questions address the decision situations in sections 2.6.1, 2.6.3, 2.6.5, and 2.6.4.

5&6-1(20 Points) The baseline MCS software cost analysis in Section 2.6.1 assume that all the COCOMO™ II effort multiplier ratings are Nominal. Relative to this baseline case, perform a return on investment analysis to calculate

ROI=(Savings-Costs)/Costs

for an investment in software tools for both the development cost savings and the life cycle cost savings:
• The cost of the tools is $500K.
• The investment in tools will improve the MCS projects' TOOL rating from Nominal to High for both the Development and Maintenance phases.
• Using the tools during Development will reduce the MCS project's LTEX rating from Nominal to halfway between Nominal and Low. During maintenance, experience with the tools will return the LTEX rating to Nominal.
• All the other MCS cost factors remain the same
Look at the analysis in Section 2.6.3 for clues about how best to perform the cost savings analysis.



5&6-2(20 Points) The candidate reusable component analyzed in Section 2.6.5 would not have paid off for the MCS project. Suppose that MCS has identified another 40 KSLOC component with better reuse parameters:

• DM = 15
• CM = 20
• IM = 30
• SU = 20
• UNFM = 0.5
• AA = 5
For this component, compute its equivalent SLOC(ESLOC); the resulting overall size in ESLOC of the MCS software; the resulting estimated effort and cost of developing the MCS software using the component; and the resulting cost savings relative to the baseline MCS development cost. Assume that all other parameters stay the same as the baseline case.



5&6-3(20 Points) The MCS project manager is concerned that the reuse parameters in the estimated above may be optimistic. She would like to establish a risk reserve for the project similar to the ones developed in Section 2.6.4, by using a more coservative set of reuse parameters:

• DM = 25
• CM = 30
• IM = 40
• SU = 30
• UNFM = 0.6
• AA = 5
Determine the resulting ESLOC, effort, cost and cost savings for the MCS project using these parameters. Determine the reduction in cost savings from the more optimistic estimate of cost savings in Question 5&6-2; this reduction is what the project manager would use as her risk reserve.