Improving Software Effort Estimation with Heterogeneous Stacked Ensemble Using

SMOTER over ELM and SVR base Learners

Software effort estimation involves predicting the necessary time, resources, and
workforce needed to complete a software development project. It encompasses
analyzing factors like project scope, requirements, complexity, and team capabilities
to provide an estimate of the effort required for successful software delivery.

In software engineering, effort is typically quantified as the time, resources, and

personnel needed for a specific task or project. Effort estimation is crucial in
software development, and various techniques and tools are employed for this
purpose. These include expert judgment, historical data analysis, parametric
modeling, and machine learning algorithms.

Effort can also be assessed using software metrics like lines of code and function
points, which offer quantitative measures of a software's size, functionality, and
complexity. These metrics aid in estimating the effort necessary for both
development and maintenance of the software.

Benefits
Certainly! Software effort estimation offers numerous advantages to project
managers, development teams, and stakeholders alike. Firstly, it facilitates efficient
resource planning by accurately predicting the amount of time, personnel, and other
resources required for project completion. This ensures that the necessary
resources are allocated appropriately, optimizing workforce utilization and
minimizing resource wastage. Secondly, effort estimation plays a vital role in
budgeting by providing realistic cost estimates for software development projects.
This enables organizations to allocate funds effectively and avoid budget overruns.
Additionally, effort estimation aids in schedule management by helping project
managers create realistic timelines and milestones based on the anticipated effort
for each task. By having a clear understanding of project timelines, teams can better
coordinate their efforts and deliver projects on time.

Moreover, effort estimation supports effective risk management by identifying

potential challenges and uncertainties early in the project lifecycle. This allows
teams to develop strategies to mitigate risks and ensure project success.

Abstract

Software effort estimation is a critical aspect of software development,

encompassing the prediction of the time, resources, and manpower required to
complete a software project. Traditionally, software effort has been measured in
terms of the number of hours worked by individuals or the monetary cost associated
with their work. However, accurately estimating effort poses significant challenges
due to the inherent complexity and variability of software development projects.

Software development projects are often subject to changing requirements,

unexpected delays, and uncertain outcomes. These factors introduce variability and
make it difficult to predict the effort required accurately. Additionally, estimation bias
is a common problem, where estimates are influenced by personal biases,
stakeholder pressure, or incomplete information. Despite these challenges, accurate
effort estimation is crucial for project success. It enables project managers to plan
effectively, allocate resources efficiently, and set realistic expectations for
stakeholders.

In recent research, a novel method for calculating software project effort has been
proposed. This method employs a heterogeneous stacked ensemble comprising two
base learners: Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) and Support Vector Regressor
(SVR). The aim is to leverage the complementary strengths of these models to
achieve more accurate effort estimates than would be possible with either model
alone. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the Synthetic Minority Over-Sampling
Technique for Regression (SMOTER) in predicting software project effort is
investigated. SMOTER is utilized to address the data imbalance problem
encountered in regression tasks, where the target variable is continuous and
imbalanced datasets make the task more complex. By employing SMOTER, the aim
is to improve the performance of effort estimation models and enhance their
predictive accuracy.

Effort estimation in software development often involves leveraging various

techniques and tools, including expert judgment, historical data analysis, parametric
modeling, and machine learning algorithms. Expert judgment relies on the
experience and expertise of individuals familiar with the project domain to provide
estimates. Historical data analysis involves examining past projects to identify
patterns and trends that can inform future estimates. Parametric modeling uses
mathematical models to estimate effort based on project characteristics such as
size, complexity, and team composition.

Effort estimation in software development also relies on software metrics, such as

lines of code and function points, to provide quantitative measures of software size,
functionality, and complexity. These metrics serve as inputs to effort estimation
models and help in estimating the effort required for both development and
maintenance activities. Additionally, software effort estimation plays a crucial role in
project management, resource allocation, budgeting, risk management, stakeholder
communication, quality assurance, and performance evaluation.
In conclusion, software effort estimation is a complex and challenging task that is
crucial for the success of software development projects. Despite the inherent
difficulties and uncertainties, accurate effort estimation is essential for effective
project planning and management. By leveraging various techniques and tools,
including machine learning algorithms and software metrics, organizations can
improve the accuracy of their effort estimates and enhance project outcomes.

Individual Value

Considering the promising results of our research, we encourage software

development teams and practitioners to adopt the proposed method utilizing the
heterogeneous stacked ensemble comprising ELM and SVR, along with SMOTER for
addressing data imbalance issues in regression tasks. By incorporating these
techniques into their effort estimation practices, teams can potentially achieve more
accurate predictions of software project effort, leading to improved project planning,
resource allocation, and ultimately, better project outcomes. We recommend
conducting further validation and experimentation within individual organizational
contexts to tailor the method to specific project requirements and constraints.