The IFPUG Knowledge Café series brings you an unmissable opportunity to dive into one of the most sensitive, and least discussed, topics in software measurement: the human interpretation behind Function Point Analysis (FPA).
Brazilian federal institutions hire software development services and pay suppliers through FPA. Yet, as many experts already know, the measurement heavily depends on human judgment, resulting in significant variation and inconsistencies across analysts, suppliers and even entire organizations.
But is the problem with FPA? Or are we overlooking a crucial point: the criteria we use, consciously or not, to interpret an Elementary Process (EP)?
Some believe that measurement variation is inevitable. Others blame the guidelines, the analysts, or the complexity of requirements. But what if the real issue lies elsewhere in the hidden decision-making criteria used during interpretation?
In this session, we will explore a research study that investigated exactly that.
A set of real scenarios, extracted from scientific literature, was analyzed by a focus group of FPA experts. Their discussions revealed something powerful: The way a functional requirement is written, its structure, clarity and representation, directly impacts how many EPs are identified, influencing effort, cost and contractual outcomes.
From this research, a support guide with investigatory questions was created to help analysts reduce doubts, especially in borderline or ambiguous cases of similar EPs.
You will not want to miss this Knowledge Café.
Together, we will discuss:
- Why analysts interpret the same requirement differently
- What criteria experts actually use when identifying EPs beyond the IFPUG recommendations
- How representation shifts the outcome of the measurement
- How a structured investigation mindset leads to more reliable, consistent FP results
- And how a practical guide of questions can support measurement activities in complex or ambiguous scenarios
We will also discuss why this research needs to be expanded to broader groups of experts, and how the community can contribute.
If you’ve ever wondered why identical requirements yield different measurements, or how to minimize variation without losing methodological rigor… this webinar is for you.
Are you curious yet?
Date and Time:
January 12, 2026 : 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (Time Conversion)
Webinar Language: English
Speakers:
Josiani Neves Pereira is an accomplished IT professional with 23 years of experience, recognized for her strategic contributions in digital transformation, software engineering, and software measurement applied to agile environments, areas critical to large organizations and highly regulated sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in Knowledge Management from the Catholic University of Brasília and a Postgraduate Specialization in Software Engineering from UniCEUB.
Her career integrates deep technical expertise with strong methodological leadership. Josiani is an Agile Coach, a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) by the Scrum Alliance, and a Certified Function Point Specialist (CFPS) by IFPUG.
As a faculty member at UniCEUB, she played an essential role in shaping future professionals, expanding the dissemination of specialized knowledge, and strengthening the connection between academia and industry. She has also authored academic papers, contributing to advancements in software engineering and software measurement.
Throughout her career, Josiani has held key roles in high-complexity, mission-critical projects for major public agencies and leading financial institutions in Brazil, including BNB, Caixa Econômica Federal, Bradesco, SEFAZ, AILOS, Banco do Brasil, the Central Bank of Brazil (BACEN), and Capgemini. Her work has been fundamental to initiatives requiring reliability, technical accuracy, and methodological rigor, solidifying her reputation as a trusted expert in highly regulated and complex environments.