Improved standard FPA method—resolving problems with upper boundaries in the rating complexity process

Abstract

The standard Function Point Analysis (FPA) method maps complexity to an ordinal scale such that function types (functions) labelled “high” complexity may have a very different underlying complexity. This deficiency is the subject of this article. An improved FPA method is presented that breaks down a very complex function into an equivalent set of functions with normal complexity. The improved FPA method is not a new method, it is an improvement of the standard FPA method. In the process of defining an improved FPA method, a model was built, which helped us find the connection between the standard FPA method and the Common Software Measurement International Consortium—Full Function Point (COSMIC-FFP) and Mark II Function Point Analysis (MKII FPA) methods. These methods were used to define the improved FPA method algorithm, because they show a bigger functional size for very complex functions. In the end, an evaluation of the improved FPA method was made with the results of the ISBSG Repository Data Disk.