In project management (i.e., for engineering), accurate estimates are the basis of sound project planning. Many processes have been developed to aid engineers in making accurate estimates, such as
Analogy based estimationCompartmentalization (i.e., breakdown of tasks)Cost estimateDelphi methodDocumenting estimation resultsEducated assumptionsEstimating each taskExamining historical dataIdentifying dependenciesParametric estimatingRisk assessmentStructured planningPopular estimation processes for software projects include:
CocomoCosysmoEvent chain methodologyFunction pointsPlanning pokerProgram Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)Proxy-based estimating (PROBE) (from the Personal Software Process)The Planning Game (from Extreme Programming)Weighted Micro Function Points (WMFP)Wideband Delphi