2006 PRICE INSight
TruePlanning SR3 Release Notes for SoS Cost Modeling (Beta) and Other TruePlanner Enhancements
PRICE TruePlanner: True Systems 2006
Fulfilling PRICE Systems' goal of delivering a System of Systems cost estimating capability, a beta version of True Systems 2006 has been developed. True Systems 2006 is a special collection of cost objects that are capable of interacting with cost objects from any of the other True catalogs. True Systems 2006 contains an enhanced Assembly cost object, as well as three new cost objects. Descriptions of these can be found below. True Systems 2006 is currently available as part of the TruePlanner application. To access, simply open TruePlanner and access the "cost objects" tab.
NOTE
The True Systems cost objects should be treated as a Beta release for testing and concept demonstration purposes only. If performing a Software to Software integration, please use the released Software Assembly cost object found in True S 2006d catalog. For estimates that use any of the True IT cost objects please use the latest Project Planning and Oversight cost object.
System Cost Object: The System cost object models the true costs of conceptualizing, planning, managing , deploying and maintaining a project to deliver a product or service to a customer. This cost object models the system project level activities that are consumed throughout the phases of initiation, planning, executing, controlling and closing.
Assembly Cost Object: The Assembly cost object identifies the presence of a Sub-System, Assembly, Sub-Assembly, etc. within the system structure. It delineates an assembled unit of integrated sub-elements, which may be incorporated with other assembled units or individual elements, to result in a finished product. This cost object models all the technical activities that occur during the development of a system consisting of hardware, software, or some combination of hardware and software.
Purchased Good Cost Object: The Purchased Good cost object models the purchase price and system integration efforts for items purchased through an outside vendor. At the cost object level this is a throughput cost based on unit price and quantity. Other inputs are available that impact system and software integration of this item at the assembly level.
Purchased Service Cost Object: The Purchased Service cost object models the effort, price, and system integration effort for services purchased through an outside vendor. At the cost object level this is a throughput cost based on labor hours and resource unit cost.
PRICE TruePlanner: Improvements to the Hardware Estimation Capability
True H 2006: The current Hardware Component cost object has been enhanced to allow for the estimation of hardware lifecycle costs. The Hardware Component can now be used to estimate maintenance costs for many varieties of systems. Hardware related lifecycle costs for electro/mechanical or purely mechanical systems can now be evaluated.
PRICE TruePlanner: Improvements to the Software Estimation Capability
True S 2006: The current Software COTS cost object has been enhanced through the addition of the Organizational Productivity input. This input's value represents a comparison of the overall productivity of your organization to the industry standard for organizations that develop similar type of software. Calibrating to this input is now possible through the Software COTS cost object.
PRICE TruePlanner: Improvements to the IT Estimation Capability
True IT 2006: The True IT Server cost object has been enhanced through the implementation of new functionality and cost research. The calculator that was used in previous versions for the Server cost object has been removed. It has been replaced by newly researched inputs, whose values can be specified through drop-down boxes.
PRICE TruePlanner: Knowledge Management
Project Search Center: PRICE TruePlanner has been enhanced with the addition of a search utility, making knowledge management within TruePlanner a reality. Simply share your past estimates and start building a knowledge repository of your own. Search is accessible from within the Project Center, so locating projects is more convenient. The utility locates projects by searching for keywords in project names, the names of cost objects contained within projects and user-defined notes.
True IT Templates: As part of PRICE Systems' ongoing effort to create a knowledge management capability within TruePlanner, True IT template files have been added to help users jumpstart their Information Technology estimates. These files can be accessed by importing them from the \PRICE Systems Solutions\TruePlanning\Templates folder of your TruePlanning installation directory.
PRICE TruePlanner: Usability Improvements
Enhanced Capability for Entering Data over Time: A new interface has been implemented to allow quicker data over time entry. Values can now be entered on a yearly, as well as monthly, basis. Locating data that can be spread over time is now much simpler, with the addition of a new "spread" button and drop-down.
Improved TruePlanner User Interface: Thanks to feedback from many of clients participating in on-going usability studies, the TruePlanner user experience has been enhanced. TruePlanner now contains new icons to differentiate between cost objects, activities, resource pools and resource pool types; an enhanced color scheme; automatic naming of the "System" folder based on the project name; the ability to see the value of constants, right from within the input sheet, defaulting to the TruePlanner project file on import; and warning users immediately about duplicate project names.
2006 Economic Updates
PRICE TruePlanner Updated Economics for 2006: New labor rates, as well as updated escalation data have been incorporated for all TruePlanner resource pools. Further economic support has been provided with the addition of South Africa economic data.
PRICE Estimating Suite Updated Economics for 2006: PRICE Estimating Suite has also been updated with new labor rates, as well as current escalation data.
