An evolutionary approach to estimating software development projects

The use of dynamic models and simulation environments in connection with software projects paved the way for tools that allow us to simulate the behaviour of the projects. The main advantage of a Software Project Simulator (SPS) is the possibility of experimenting with different decisions to be taken at no cost. In this paper, we present a new approach based on the combination of an SPS and Evolutionary Computation. The purpose is to provide accurate decision rules in order to help the project manager to take decisions at any time in the development. The SPS generates a database from the software project, which is provided as input to the evolutionary algorithm for producing the set of management rules. These rules will help the project manager to keep the project within the cost, quality and duration targets. The set of alternatives within the decision-making framework is therefore reduced to a quality set of decisions. q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.