How to obtain accurate estimates in a real-time environment using full function points

An extension to the current IFPUG function point counting practices method is presented. This extension, called Full Function Points, has enabled Nortel Networks project teams to more completely scope the functional size of real time software projects and to produce early, accurate development estimates more consistently. Although the function point metric is widely used in many software organizations throughout the world to produce accurate design estimates early, the real time software industry acknowledges that the application of the IFPUG functional scoping method has not been sufficient to drive consistently accurate estimates for real time software projects. The paper illustrates how a Nortel Networks pilot has supplemented the IFPUG method using a Full Function Point approach, an approach that has pioneered the first successful application of Full Function Points to enable the generation of consistently accurate effort estimates in a real time environment.