Software Estimation or MCSE Self Paced Training Kit

Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black Art

Author: Steve McConnell

Often referred to as the "black art" because of its complexity and uncertainty, software estimation is not as hard or mysterious as people think. However, the art of how to create effective cost and schedule estimates has not been very well publicized. While the average software organization can struggle with project costs that run double their original estimates, some of the more sophisticated organizations achieve results with estimation errors as low as 5-10%. These best-in-class organizations use scientific techniques that are not cost-effective, however, making them of limited use to most software development organizations. To address these issues, Software Estimation focuses on the art of software estimation and provides a proven set of procedures and heuristics that software developers, technical leads, and project managers can apply to their projects. Instead of arcane treatises and rigid modeling techniques, award-winning author Steve McConnell gives practical guidance to help organizations achieve basic estimation proficiency and lay the groundwork to continue improving project cost estimates. This book is organized from simple tips to more advanced ideas; it does not avoid the more hairy mathematical estimation approaches, but the non-mathematical reader will find plenty of useful guidelines without getting bogged down in complex formulas.

Table of Contents:

1	What is an "estimate"?	3
2	How good an estimator are you?	15
3	Value of accurate estimates	21
4	Where does estimation error come from?	33
5	Estimate influences	55
6	Introduction to estimation techniques	77
7	Count, compute, judge	83
8	Calibration and historical data	91
9	Individual expert judgment	105
10	Decomposition and recomposition	113
11	Estimation by analogy	127
12	Proxy-based estimates	135
13	Expert judgment in groups	149
14	Software estimation tools	157
15	Use of multiple approaches	165
16	Flow of software estimates on a well-estimated project	171
17	Standardized estimation procedures	181
18	Special issues in estimating size	197
19	Special issues in estimating effort	207
20	Special issues in estimating schedule	221
21	Estimating planning parameters	233
22	Estimate presentation styles	249
23	Politics, negotiation, and problem solving	259

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MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-291) Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure

Author: J C Mackin

Announcing an all-new MCSA/MCSE Training Kit designed to help maximize your performance on Exam 70-291, a core exam for the new Windows Server 2003 certification. This kit packs the tools and features that exam candidates want most-including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam-certified authors; and a robust testing suite. It also provides real-world scenarios, case study examples, and troubleshooting labs for skills and expertise that you can apply to the job.

Focusing on network infrastructure management for Windows Server 2003, this official study guide covers topics such as implementing, managing, and maintaining IP addressing, name resolution, network security measures, routing and remote access, and monitoring and troubleshooting network infrastructure.

Ace your exam preparation and ramp up quickly on Windows Server 2003 by working at your own pace through the lessons, hands-on exercises, and practice tests. The flexible, best-of-class test engine on CD features 300 practice questions and pre-assessment and post-assessment capabilities. Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on discrete objectives or chapters, and get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers-including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get a 120-day evaluation version of Windows Server 2003 and a 15 percent exam discount voucher-making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.