Towards a toolbox for cost-calculation in the pre-requirements phase

Efficient and precise estimation of project costs even before a project has started is a challenging task. Unfortunately, this is common practice for small and medium sized enterprises (SME) when applying for projects. Without budget (effort) and based on a minimal set of facts SME have to calculate a proposed project's effort without having the confidence that the proposal will be granted. Therefore, in this paper the idea of a methodology is presented that consists out of a toolbox, leveraging on the one hand to make an efficient esti- mation and to present the facts on which decisions will be made as well. Using the principle of reuse, SME can use this toolbox to create mockups/prototypes out of the shelf along with an estimation of the project costs that are derived from the according experience factory. Efficiency, understandability of the fea- ture scope, and understandability of the estimated costs will characterize the generated view on the project proposal.