The formula for estimating the complexity of the project in people * months. Two stages of project evaluation are distinguished: a preliminary assessment at the initial phase and a detailed assessment after the elaboration of the architecture. The model uses a regression formula with parameters determined on the basis of industry data and characteristics of a specific project. Parameters were calibrated according to 161 development projects.
In 1997, the technique was improved and received the name COCOMO II. It was first published by Bari Boehme in 1981 as the result of an analysis of 63 projects of TRW Aerospace. The COCOMO method allows to estimate the complexity and development time of a software product.
