JavaZone 2010 - Seven cost-efficient ways to reduce your project overruns
Software estimation is an inherently difficult discipline. Research has found indications that increasingly popular agile frameworks may in fact reduce overruns, yet agile organizations are hardly immune to overruns, delays and bad business decisions based on poor estimates.
A practice such as planning poker may be beneficial. However, it only deals with some aspects related to the complex process of software estimation. The agile literature is mainly concerned with estimating sprints or releases, and does not address underlying issues such as estimates of overall project schedule and cost. There are also many other estimation pitfalls related to organizational issues in desperate need of attention.
This talks presents seven cost-efficient ways to reduce your project overruns, ranging from simple checklists, to target-price contracts. It is suitable for customers, contractors, managers, team-members and anybody else frustrated with unpaid overtime, cancelled vacations and stranded projects.
Kjetil Moløkken-Østvold
Kjetil Moløkken-Østvold has extensive experience with software estimation and process improvement, both as a consultant and researcher. He is a frequent speaker at conference venues, including Agile, Smidig, JavaZone and Software.
His most recent projects include quality assurance of three large (>500 MNOK) public sector projects, and process improvement projects for multinational telecom- and financial companies. He has also worked as an external advisor on developing a web-based collaboration platform supporting requirement handling, estimation and experience sharing.
Kjetil is currently a Senior Partner at Conceptos Consulting. His previous experience includes working as assistant director and postdoctor at Simula Research Laboratory. Kjetil received his MSc and PhD from the University of Oslo in 2002 and 2004 respectively. He is the author of 23 scientific papers published in international journals and proceedings. Topics include cost estimation, agile software development, project management, public software projects, collaboration and communication, group processes and contracts. A list of publications can be found at: http://simula.no/people/kjetilmo/bibliography.