Authors : Mua`ad Abu-Faraj, Khalid T. Al-Sarayreh and Kenza Meridji
Abstract: An early cost estimation model is one of the important issues in software engineering projects. It has been observed that cost estimation software projects often differ from the final costs. This study presents a proposed model combining between a priori and posteriori contexts for early estimation of the cost in order to avoid the used confusion of these two estimations concepts. This research contributes to research knowledge by proposing and validating most of the common cost estimation models used throughout the a priori and posteriori contexts and it highlights some of the confusion of such estimation models uses in software engineering development projects. In addition, this study lists some of the estimation techniques that can be used in a priori and posteriori contexts. The proposed model in this study can be used to help organizations to deliver their projects on time and with estimated budget in a context of fixed-price agreements. Therefore, organizations must conclude well in advance such estimates which are called the a priori cost estimation. Whilst these organizations typically use estimation techniques based either on informal opinions or organizational experience or on a posteriori estimation models developed internally or developed by outside consultancy.
Mua`ad Abu-Faraj, Khalid T. Al-Sarayreh and Kenza Meridji, 2019. A Model Combining a Priori and Posteriori Contexts to Estimate the Costs of a Software Project. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 14: 3643-3650.