1. COCOMO-SCORM: Cost Estimation for SCORM Course Development
Roger Smith & Kelly Ward
SPARTA Inc. and Anteon Inc.
and
07 March 2006

2. What is COCOMO?
The Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO I) was first published in 1981 by Barry Boehm. Its ability to estimate software projects led to its almost universal adoption and continued research that led to the creation of COCOMO II in 1998.
Since 1981, the COCOMO estimation method has been adapted to serve a number of different types of projects, e.g.
Systems Engineering (COSYSMO)
COTS Acquisition (COCOTS)
Cost, Schedule, Quality Balance (COQUALMO)
Rapid Application Development (CORADMO)
Productivity Improvement (COPROMO)
Lifecycle Costs (COPSEMO)

3. What is SCORM? Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM)
A standard for web-based E-learning. It defines how the individual instruction elements are combined on a technical level and sets conditions for the software needed for using the content.
The standard uses XML and it is based on the results of work done by AICC, IMS, IEEE, and Ariadne.
SCORM is a suite of technical standards that enable web-based learning systems to find, import, share, reuse, and export learning content in a standardized way. 

4. Project Description
Create an interactive project estimation tool for ISD/SCORM content
Algorithmic foundation for the tool is the COCOMO II algorithm developed for software projects by the research team at the University of Southern California and led by Barry Boehm
ISD methodology estimated will be the ADDIE model developed at Florida State University and adopted by the U.S. Armed Services
Resulting algorithm and tools will estimate the person-months required to create a SCORM conformant learning product
Dollar costs can be derived outside of the model by applying industry standard or specific company labor rates

5. Current Estimation Methods
Historical
Bottom-up
Top-down
Industry standards
For example, audience completes the top survey question
Problems introduced:
Conditions change – i.e. SCORM, new technologies

6. Different Approach
Enumerate SCORM products and processes that contribute to the staffing and duration of a project
Identify mathematic and logical relationships between these items
Quantify the level of contribution of each item to project cost
Define a bounded set of conditions under which the algorithm can be relied upon
Validate the algorithm for various sets of data within the bounded conditions

7. Why Change?
Consistent, objective, and reliable estimation tool for SCORM content and projects
First step in formalizing an estimation method in the ADL community
Create a tool that other projects can apply, modify, and mature
COCOMO II has been evolving for 25 years.
COCOMO-SCORM tool from this project will be the first step in the long evolution and improvement of a tool for this community

8. COCOMO II Tool Example
User’s
Perspective
Quantitative
Qualitative

9. COCOMO-SCORM Drivers (27 Input Variables)
Size
Source Lines of Code (SLOC)
Design Modification (DM)
Code Modification (CM)
Integration (IM)
Assessment (AA)
Understanding (SU)
Unfamiliarity (UNFAM)
Scale Drivers
Development Flexibility (FLEX)
Process Maturity (PMAT)
Precedentedness (PREC)
Arch/Risk Resolution (RESL)
Team Cohesion (TEAM)
Product Effort Multipliers (EM)
Required Reliability (RELY)
Product Complexity (CPLX)
Required Reuse (RUSE)
Documentation (DOCU)
Platform EM
Platform Volatility (PVOL)
Bandwidth (BAND)
Personnel EM
Senior Capability (SCAP)
Developer Capability (DCAP)
Personnel Continuity (PCON)
Applications Experience (APEX)
Platform Experience (PLEX)
Development Tools Experience (DTEX)
Project EM
Lifecycle Tools (LIFE)
Multisite Development (SITE)
Required Development Schedule (SCED)

10. EM Effect on Project 15 Effort Multipliers Set to Nominal
Extra High
Nominal
Very Low
Course Hours
Project Cost
Project Cost = A * Course Hours
(Person Months) (Constant) (Student Hours)

11. Answers Effect Project Cost
15 Effort Multipliers Other Than Nominal
Project Cost
Course Hours
Nominal Cost
Project Cost = A * EMi * Course Hours
(Person Months) (Constant) (Modifiers) (Student Hours)

12. Range of Cost Variation
Max = X
115 ?
Course Hours
Project Cost
Flex From:
X times larger to
Y times smaller
Min = Y
0.05 ?

13. COSCOMO Model Algorithm
PM = A*(Size)E * PEMi 15
i=1 5
E = B + .01*PSFj
j=1
Where:
PM = effort in Person Months
A = calibration constant derived from historical project data
Size = Adjust Source Lines of Code
E = represents diseconomy of scale (composed of 5 scale factors)
EMi = effort multiplier for the ith cost driver. The geometric product results in an overall effort adjustment factor to the nominal effort.
B = calibration constant derived from historical project data
SFj = scale factor for the jth cost driver. Provides organization specific adjustments to the size of the project.

14. Join the Team Take the Survey (Provide Anteon Web Site for Survey)
Contact us or
Contact Joint ADL CoLab
Leave Your Business Card
Visit our Demo in the USDLA Pavilion
(Time and Location for COSCOMO demo)