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A costing model for software conversions
Author(s) -
Wolberg John R.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
software: practice and experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1097-024X
pISSN - 0038-0644
DOI - 10.1002/spe.4380121105
Subject(s) - inefficiency , software , activity based costing , investment (military) , computer science , line (geometry) , mathematics , business , economics , operating system , accounting , microeconomics , geometry , politics , political science , law
In this paper a cost model for software conversion projects is developed. The model is based upon three variable parameters: L (thousands of lines of source code), N (the total number of programs being converted) and E (the conversion software inefficiency). All other parameters included in the model are constant coefficients which can vary from one type of conversion to another. An analysis of the resulting model yields four major conclusions: (1) There is an optimum investment that should be made in conversion software for each conversion project. (2) As the total number of lines to be converted increases, it is cost‐effective to increase the investment in conversion software. (3) If conversion software is reused for a second project, it is worthwhile to invest additional effort (and/or funds) in upgrading the software. (4) As the size of the conversion increases the cost per line decreases to a lower limit.