Performing top-down estimations using function points (P6 Professional Only)

1. Choose Tools, Top Down Estimation.
2. Choose to estimate labor or nonlabor resource units, or select a material resource in the Resource field.
3. In the WBS field, click the Browse button to select the WBS element whose activities you want to estimate. Click Select.
4. Choose Function Point, then click Function Points.
5. In the Function Point Estimation dialog box, enter the Unadjusted Function Point Count (UFP) value you want to use, or click Calculate to calculate the UFP. If you choose to calculate the UFP, the Function Point Estimation - Data and Transactions dialog box will appear.
6. In the Function Point Estimation - Data and Transactions dialog box, enter the number of low, average, and high complexity files and transactions to be developed under the WBS element and resource, if any, you are estimating.
7. Click Close. In the Function Point Estimation dialog box, the UFP value is listed in the Unadjusted Function Point Count (UFP) field.
8. Enter the Total Degree of Influence (TDI) value you want to use, or click Characteristics to calculate the TDI. If you choose to calculate the TDI, the Function Point Estimation - System Characteristics dialog box will appear.
9. In the Function Point Estimation - System Characteristics dialog box, select a system characteristic, then choose the numeric value that indicates the characteristic's degree of influence on the WBS element you are estimating.
   
   Zero (0) indicates no influence while 5 indicates the strongest influence.
   
   When you select a value, the Value Description box displays text describing the value for the selected characteristics. Select a value for all system characteristics, then click Close.
10. In the Function Point Estimation dialog box, the TDI value is listed in the Total Degree of Influence (TDI) field.
11. Type the average productive value (function points/person month), then click Close.
12. Mark the Apply adjustment checkbox to apply an adjusted percentage to the estimate. Type the adjustment percentage. For example, if the estimated units are 400.00h and you apply an adjustment of 50%, P6 Professional will 200.00h (50% of 400) to the estimated units. The Adjusted Units field will display 600.00h.
13. Click Save As to save the estimate without applying it. Type a name and any assumptions and notes about the estimate, then click Save.
14. Click apply to perform top-estimation. Click Yes when prompted to confirm that you want to apply a top-down estimate to the project, then Click OK.

Related Topics

Performing Top-down Estimation (P6 Professional Only)

Performing top-down estimations using prior experience (P6 Professional Only)

Applying Saved Top-Down Estimations To a Project (P6 Professional Only)