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SLIM-Collaborate for Enterprise Software Estimation

SLIM gives you the power to streamline software estimation workflows and increase stakeholder engagement.

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Enterprise Software Estimation and Closeout Process Standardization

Is a software proposal destined to fail? Are a vendor’s assumptions unrealistic? Will adding more programmers help or hurt?

These questions are crucial for determining the feasibility of any software project. But for non-technical business stakeholders, getting the answers can be a daunting task.

That’s why SLIM-Collaborate offers everyone in your enterprise instant Web access to the information that matters most.

Who says software lifecycle management has to be difficult or complicated? With SLIM-Collaborate, the intelligence is everywhere you need it–from the C-suite to the sales floor.

SLIM-Collaborate

Enterprise software estimation and completed project analytics

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SLIM-Estimate
Software estimation power features and template configuration
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SLIM-Collaborate
Project estimation and closeout process workflow and standardization
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SLIM-DataManager
Enterprise master historical project database

How It Fits in the SLIM Ecosystem

Software project estimation for large enterprises and agencies involves many stakeholders.  SLIM-Collaborate, QSM’s Software as a Service (SaaS) product, provides project estimation and closeout services that provide the right business intelligence to the right people at the right time! Implement standard, tailorable processes and workflows. Control project data access using Organizational Breakdown Structures, user roles, and permission levels. Customize project list filters and dashboards to support project-level and portfolio-level risk and performance analysis.

Simplify software project estimation without compromising capabilities. Upload SLIM-Estimate templates that are configured to model different application types and associated trend statistics, such as Agile, Finance, Government, Cloud Migration, and more. Use estimation project check-in and check-out to leverage SLIM-Estimate’s power features.

Maintain a repository of completed project data to calibrate future estimates to current capabilities and benchmark performance against relevant QSM or internal trends. Export projects for use with SLIM-DataManager and SLIM-Metrics desktop applications to support custom trend creation and advanced analysis. Import completed projects from SLIM-DataManager to support estimate validation against history.
 

Key Features

Software Estimation Risk Assessment Dashboard

The greatest source of risk to software projects is uncertainty about scope and productivity assumptions. Get a quick overview of the potential risk to new estimates.

  • Demonstrate the benefits of recommended estimate solutions by comparing the average Staff, Effort, or Cost over time to alternative estimate scenarios to zero in on the relative risks
  • The Risk Gauge provides ratings from risky to conservative for key software estimate outcomes (Duration, Cost, Effort, Staffing, and Productivity) based on deviations from the select trend
  • Use Trend Charts to see how multiple estimate scenarios compare to performance trends and similar historical project.  Estimates may be reasonable compared to the trends but position outside the organization's proven capabilities
Software estimate risk assessment dashboard with risk gauge and validation against historical data

Software Estimate Solution Comparison

Compare software estimate Duration, Cost, Software Size, Productivity and other key outcomes for multiple What-if scenarios.

  • Current Solution (yellow)
  • Balanced Risk Solution (green), which represents the average performance for the selected trend group
  • Alternatives Solutions (blue)
Bar charts that compare duration, cost, software size, and productivity for multiple software project estimates

IT Project Portfolio Timeline

Visualize project start dates, end dates, and duration for Estimation and Closeout projects.

  • Filter the enterprise project list by Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS) node, industry, application type, or other characteristics
  • Display as text and export the data to Excel
  • Compare estimated versus actual delivery schedules
  • Use hover tips to see individual project details
Software project portfolio timeline or Gantt chart showing estimate and closeout projects

IT Project Performance Benchmarks

Assess the performance of completed projects against industry trends that match your competition or against enterprise trends.

  • Benchmark Trend Charts display normalized project size (independent metric; x-axis) versus management metrics such as Duration, Effort, Staff, Defects or Productivity (dependent metric; y-axis). Regression trendlines show the average value of the dependent metric
  • Color-coded regions define percentile regions based on deviations from the trend
  • Quadrant Charts show deviations from the trend for two metrics, such as Productivity and Duration.  Customize the Bubble metric to focus on cost or scope. Define a target zone (light green) to easily recognize estimate projects at risk or opportunities for process improvement
Software performance benchmark trend line and bubble charts that show deviations from average

SLIM-Collaborate Benefits

Consistent & repeatable estimation processes

Define standard software estimation methods and best practices across the enterprise

Advanced workflows

Customize software project estimation and closeout workflows

Engage stakeholders

Share software project and portfolio analytics with estimators, project managers, and executives instantly

Resource demand plans

Estimate resource demand by role or skill at the project and portfolio level

Request a Demo

Register for a live demo of SLIM to see how data-driven software estimation and analytics can improve the way your organization plans and delivers software projects. During the session, you’ll see how SLIM uses proven models and industry benchmark data to help teams produce more accurate estimates, manage in-flight projects, and conduct post-project analysis.