A data complexity formula for deriving time-to-build estimates from non-relational to relational databases

Please note that this is a searchable PDF derived via optical character recognition (OCR) from the original source document. As the OCR process is never 100% perfect, there may be some discrepancies between the document image and the underlying text.Despite the many qualitative elements of software time-to-build estimating, some observable features can be quantified; even if the resulting set of variables observed is arbitrary. Such is the case when estimating the expected duration for database re-engineering. If we assume that for any extant database, an entity-relationship model (ERM) can be produced from which a new normalised schema is generated, then our estimating task needs to quantify both the complexity of the ensuing ERM and also the data modelling knowledge of the ‘re-engineer’. Whilst there may be additional variables to be considered, a set of primary elements required for estimating the durations of the task have been identified. The formula proposed in this paper is arbitrary but it is intended as an instrument for measuring ER model complexity, such that time-to-build estimates can be made for the task of re-engineering extant non-relational databases into relational form.UnpublishedBenwell,G. Firns,P. and Sallis, P. Deriving semantic data models from structured process descriptions of reality. Jnl of Info Tech (1991) 6,15-25. Boehm, B.W. Software Engineering Economics. New York, Prentice Hall, 1981. Bollinger, T.B. and McGowan, C. A Critical Look at Software Capability Evaluations. IEEE Software, 1991, 25-41. Brooks, F.B. The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering London, Addison-Wesley, 1975 Cherniavsky,J.C. and Smith,C.H. On Weyuker’s Axioms for software complexity measures. IEEE Trans on Soft Eng, Vol 17(6), June 1991. Davey, James H. Database Re-engineering. CASE Trends, Nov 1992, 24-27 Elmasri, R., Weeldreyer,J. and Hevner, A. The category concept: an extension to the entity-relationship model. Data & Knowledge Engineering 1(1985), 75-116. Rakos, John J. Software Project Management for Small to Medium Sized Projects. Prentice Hall, 1990. van Genuchten,M. Why is Software Late? An empirical study of reasons for delay in software development. IEEE Trans on Soft Eng, Vol 17(6), June 1991