Empirical investigation of systems cost estimation models in the Limpopo Province of South Africa: a requirement modelling problem

Abstract

There are many factors believed to be important to systems development cost estimation. However an in-depth analysis demonstrates requirements as central cost drivers. The various transformations requirements go through from candidate requirements to released response is the most intricate part of systems development cost estimation. Requirements exist independent of systems development methodologies. Requirements may be viewed from bespoke or market driven perspectives. The former assumes a traditional economic agent theory view where a client organisation requests for a service from the systems development organisation. The later, market-driven requirements elicitation entails predicting requirements by the systems development organisation based on market research output. Irrespective of the perspective the systems development cost estimation is imperative. The study investigates adoption and usage of cost estimation models by the systems development companies in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The paper introduces a requirements transition state diagram and pinpoints informal cost estimation models as predominant. In this article we also present the results of our survey findings and the discussion of those results as well as the recommendations for further work