System Time and Other Platform Data in Function Points Analysis (CEP eligible presentation for CFPS certificate extension)

ISMA22

Presented by Marcello Sgamma

Session Description: System clock and other platform data are commonly used in modern software systems. Examples of platform data include network data (e.g., IP address, MAC Address), system identification data (e.g., OS Type, OS Name and Version) and any other data maintained within the Operating System (OS) or Runtime Environment. Platform data is sometimes used as tracking information, such as logging transactions, but some other times this data is significant and essential to satisfy business requirements. From the Function Point Analysis (FPA) point of view, information used by an application can be classified as one of the following, depending on their use in satisfying user requirements:

  • Functional data: data that is necessary for business functions, required by elementary processes (EPs) to satisfy functional user requirements (data attributes or DETs).
  • Non-functional data: data used by elementary processes to satisfy non-functional user requirements (for quality, standard audit and control, physical implementation and/or technical reasons).

Another type of data recognized in FPA is Control Information, which is defined as data that influences an elementary process by specifying what, when or how data is to be processed. Control information can be found in both, functional and non-functional forms. In this paper, specific guidance is provided on platform data acting as functional Control Information, following the CPM approach. This paper provides some examples and guidance on how to evaluate platform data.

Speaker Bio:

Marcello Sgamma, Member of IFPUG FSSC and NFSSC. Graduated in Computer Sciences at University of Pisa, with Diploma from Scuola Normale Superiore. Senior consultant, expert in functional and architectural analysis, and in software metrics.

With 30 years of experience in the ICT sector, he has gained skills from management of SW developments, to design of application and service management solutions, functional and architectural analysis of web portals, e-commerce solutions, etc.

In recent years, consulting activities have focused on sizing of functional and non-functional developments, teaching, and tutoring functional sizing, and in the functional analysis of projects and evolutions for the insurance market. CFPS and CSP since 2015, active member of FSSC and NFSSC since 2021.

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