Cost Reporting For Development Of Information Processing Systems

The report describes a system for the collecting and reporting on data on the resources expended in the production of computer programs. The system is intended to: (1) provide information to facilitate management control during the progress of a computer programming effort; (2) build a data bank from which better cost-estimating relationships and planning tools can be developed; (3) accomplish the above with a minimum of interference with operating personnel. The report was designed to provide sample materials necessary for the implementation of cost reporting in any organization in which computer programming is performed; it includes a description of the steps that constitute the computer programming process, the kinds of personnel who would be involved in the cost-collection and -reporting system, a recommended work flow and suggested forms for use in data collection and reporting, a work breakdown structure for associating costs with activities, and a brief discussion of the relationship of this system with several existing Department of Defense management procedures.

A program is described for acquisition, storage, analysis and dissemination of materials information. A specific and representative portion of the Materials Information System is used as a model and discussed in detail. The System is designed to store individual test data and associated descriptive information. It therefore provides the capability for data analysis based on complex interactions, graphic or tabular display of data, and more conventional bibliographic output.