Galorath Conducts 2009 SEER Seminar: Best Practices in Project Estimation, Planning & Control

On October 8th and 9th, 2009, Galorath conducted its user conference on project estimation, planning & control at its worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, CA. The content included presentations from a variety of world class company participants, all united in their efforts to improve project estimation practices. Presentations covered many topics in the area of project estimation, planning and control. Attendees were also able to receive one-on-one consulting and hands on experience on advanced topics of their choice, which proved to be valuable for all. We look forward to our next event in which to continue to provide educational opportunities for the estimating community.

GENERAL PRESENTATIONS

Getting the Most from SEER: See How Others are Doing it by Dr. Christopher Rush, Galorath Incorporated

This presentation highlights some of the many ways that SEER-MFG and SEER-H are utilized in industry throughout the world today. It provides an insight into a wide variety of SEER users and how they get the most out of SEER. SEER is used by some as a shop floor standard for estimation, for others it is used as interoperable innovative solutions with SAP and CAD systems using SEER Servermode. The experiences shared in this presentation aspire to inspire all SEER users with new innovative ideas so that they to can get even more benefits from their own uses of SEER.

• Please Log in to see download links.

SOFTWARE PRESENTATIONS

1. Streamlining and Automating the Cost Estimation Process Using Excel and SEER Products by Gary Hellenga, Booz Allen Hamilton

This presentation demonstrates tools and processes Booz Allen Hamilton estimators developed to support estimation work for NASA’s new manned space exploration program, Constellation. The key tool is a Microsoft Excel workbook that acts as a front-end to the SEER for Software or SEER for Hardware applications, using Automation to leverage the SEER model’s Server Mode capabilities to create SEER cost models from data in the workbook, and saving SEER estimate report data in the workbook upon completion.

• Please Log in to see download links.

2. A Calibration Approach by Darlene Williams, Project Cost Engineer, Northrop Grumman Corporation

This presentation provides an overview of an approach to perform a calibration using a methodology that offers structure and repeatable approach using SEER for Software.

• Please Log in to see download links.

3. SEER Mainframe Migration Estimate by Terry Vogt, Senior Software Cost Estimator, Booz Allen Hamilton

This presentation will describe use of SEER for Software to produce a series of estimates for a project to migrate software to a new environment. The objective of the estimate was to provide information on the effort and schedule duration required to migrate this critical application. That information had to be developed in such a way that it could be used in a variety of planning and evaluation scenarios.

• Please Log in to see download links.

4. Combining Process Enforcement and SEER to Ensure Project Success by Bob Lawhorn, Computer Aid / Computer Aid’s ITMPI and Dan Galorath, Galorath Incorporated

Mr. Lawhorn has found that automation of well engineered processes along with process enforcement provide project management with the necessary visibility and control to virtually guarantee the operational success of projects. CAI’s process control software that oversees and controls the software process achieves dramatic improvements in cost (reductions of 30 to 40%). SEER also plays a role in providing realistic, achievable plans. Additionally, Bob provides an introduction to Tracer, Computer Aid’s process enforcement tool.

Mr. Galorath discusses the reasons for software project failure along with project failure solutions. Galorath’s estimate maturity model is discussed along with an introduction to successful software processes and CAI’s Tracer process enforcement tool.

• Please Log in to see download links.

5. Next Generation Cost Estimating Tools: SEER for Software Integration with the Joint Integrated Analysis Tool (JIAT) by Daniel L. Schwartz, Senior Operations Research Analyst, ODASA-CE and Darren Elliott, Dir, Product and Service Operations, Tecolote Research

A major challenge for U.S. Army cost analysts is to bring together current engineering design, capability, and performance data in their cost estimating processes and analyses. JIAT is a web-based architecture designed to provide seamless linkages between tools and provide near-real time cost estimating capability to the cost, acquisition, requirements, and modeling and simulation communities.

• Please Log in to see download links.

6. Life Cycle Model-Based Improvement of SEER for Software Schedule Estimates by Dr. Peter Hantos, Sr. Engineering Specialist, and Nancy Kern, Sr. Project Leader, The Aerospace Corporation

The research carried out at Aerospace is introducing the concept of schedule-focused estimation. This approach reflects the realities of acquisition, i.e., most of the programs we are dealing with are schedule-driven. It is not the authors’ objective to discuss the pros and cons of focusing on schedule; the objective is simply to devise an approach that would make such schedule-centric planning easier and the associated estimates more accurate.

• Please Log in to see download links.

7. Modeling a Manifesto by David DeWitt, Sr. Consultant, Galorath Incorporated

“SaaS,” “In the Cloud,” “Agile” - what are these things and how the heck does one model a manifesto? Today’s estimators are finding it increasingly more difficult to understand even the vocabulary of new methods, let alone how to size them. This paper demonstrates how to isolate the key parameters clouded by new terminology. Once the underlying representation is understood - the easier it is to accurately model the problem.

• Please Log in to see download links.

HARDWARE PRESENTATIONS

1. CostIQ Beta by Lee Fischman, Sr. Director of Development, Galorath Incorporated

Contact Galorath for more information on this major new feature for SEER tools.

• Please Log in to see download links.

2. Combining a schedule simulation model with SEER for Hardware, Electronics & Systems model to forecast funding impacts to various program milestones by Luke Sayer, Cost Estimating and Risk Analysis, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Aerospace Systems

This presentation is a result of an actual study and the innovative approach used to determine the impact of differing funding levels and funding profiles on program schedule milestones.

• Please Log in to see download links.

3. A Calibration Approach by Darlene Williams, Project Cost Engineer, Northrop Grumman Corporation

This presentation provides an overview of an approach to perform a calibration using a methodology that offers structure and repeatable approach using SEER for Hardware, Electronics & Systems.

• Please Log in to see download links.

4. New Links Between SEER for Hardware and Product Modeling Systems by Lee Fischman, Sr. Director of Development and Dr. Chris Rush, Product Lead, Galorath Incorporated.

A new plug-in for ModelCenter fully integrates SEER for Hardware. With this plug-in, the full parameter list of a SEER for Hardware project is now available for selection within ModelCenter, in addition to nearly all estimated values. A “smart” SEER interface also has been developed for creating SEER projects directly from data stored in product repositories.

• Please Log in to see download links.

5. Hardware Oriented Applications of SEER-IT by Karen McRitchie, Vice President of Development, Galorath Incorporated

SEER-IT is a versatile application that enables you to estimate IT infrastructure deployment as well as operations. Many systems today use IT based technology to interconnect key components. For example, secure networks and enabling software systems are used to connect command and control centers with battle field equipment. This presentation will show how SEER-IT can be used to estimate the deployment and operations of the IT based technologies prevalent in network centric systems (NCS). It will also demonstrate the systems engineering estimating capabilities of SEER-IT. Examples of a SEER-IT estimates for NCS and hardware oriented systems are included.

• Please Log in to see download links.