A simplified formulation of predictive object points (POP) sizing metric for OO measurement

Different effort estimation techniques exist for sizing software systems but none is directly applicable to object-oriented software. Although many researchers worked for size and thus effort estimation but still the problem not resolved fully. Different existing estimation techniques works specifically for specific development environment. PRICE systems has developed the predictive object point (POP) metric for predicting effort required for developing an object oriented software system and is based on the counting scheme of function point (FP) method. Though it was an interesting theoretical development but could not gain sufficient recognition from practitioners to be used on a regular basis due to lack of an easy to use support tool and too much complicated formulations. In this paper we tried to simplify the POP calculation. The POP count formula suggested by PRICE system has been modified for estimating the effort. An easy to use support tool to automate the counting method has been prepared. The refined POP count formula and preliminary results of its application in an industrial environment are presented and discussed here for validation of the suggested modification or simplification in formula.