Analogous estimating compares your project to similar past ones for a quick, rough estimate. Parametric estimating uses historical data and variables like cost per line of code for more accuracy, but needs reliable data and statistical models to work.
Chapters
What is the difference between analogous estimating and parametric estimating? With analogous estimating, you look at similar past projects as a basis for your current estimate. It's like saying, our last software upgrade took 3 months and cost $20,000, so this similar upgrade should take and cost about the same. Analogous estimating is quick and straightforward. It is used when you have limited information or need a rough estimate quickly. Parametric estimating is more detailed and quantitative compared to analogous estimating. Parametric estimating uses statistical relationships between historical data and other variables to calculate an estimate. For example, if you know that writing a code for a software module typically costs $100 per line of code, and your new project requires 1,000 lines, you can estimate the cost to be around $100,000. Parametric estimating is more accurate than analogous estimating.