Carlos Simoes

Session 5: Benefits, Challenges, Success Factors, and Gains from Estimate Validation – A Real-World Case
Time: 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Session Abstract:
This presentation will bring a relevant real-world case study involving an organization, addressing the benefits, challenges, success factors, and gains associated with adopting an estimate validation process for software development. The validation aims to increase the reliability of effort estimates to support budgeting, planning, and monitoring. The process was defined to include simple, effective activities that enable consensus among all stakeholders, resulting in greater accuracy regarding effort planning, schedules, and human resource allocation for task execution. The article describes the defined process and presents actual operational data, such as the number of estimates evaluated, financial savings, and the cost of conducting the validation.

The operational and quantitative results demonstrate the practical value of the adopted approach, based on a real-world case of evaluating estimates received from suppliers over a three-year period. Training sessions were conducted for all parties involved to facilitate the institutionalization of the defined process. Estimates were prepared using a standardized, repeatable, and auditable method based on Function Points, as stipulated in the contract, which facilitated consensus among the parties. Estimates were evaluated, and consensus meetings were held when necessary until all issues were resolved. Financial savings exceeded 20%, representing a gain for the contracting organization. It was observed that the accuracy rate of the estimates improved significantly over time.

Speaker Bio:
Consulting and training for software organizations on topics related to software development and maintenance, such as process implementation and assessment based on CMMI and MPS SW/SV reference models; definition and implementation of process workflows for Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid lifecycles; project and budget planning and monitoring; software metrics (including cost and effort estimate assessment); and information security. Author of over 50 articles published and presented in major journals, magazines, and national and international conferences. Holds a Ph.D. in Systems and Computing Engineering from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO, 2017–2023) and an M.Sc. in Systems and Computing Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (COPPE/UFRJ, 2008–2011). Served as a professor for the Software Engineering and Software Quality MBA program at UFRJ’s Polytechnic School (2010–2018). Over 30 years of experience in Information Technology.