The analysis effort and programming methods both rest onto the principle of extrapolating the total development effort by detailed evaluates of one phase of the project. Define the approach taken in each of such methods and demonstrate in what conditions each might best be working.

With the analysis effort process, the stage of the project which forms the basis for the evaluations is the analysis of needs. Estimates for such can be arrived at by seeming the stakeholders to be included, the methods to be used (workshops or interviews for illustration) and by allocating sensible amounts of effort to such. The analysis effort process is most likely the best choice where there is only a vague concept of the actual need but where the stakeholders to be involved into the analysis work can be known.

The programming method needs specialists well-versed in the technologies to be used to get a look at the needs and then to assess the effort included to create the needed programs. It could be done by evaluating lines of code or perhaps with categorising programs as huge, medium or small or as complicated, simple or moderate. Obviously, this method is most relevant where a Requirements Specification is perhaps acquired as part of an invitation to tender is accessible that provides a good general concepts of the programs likely to be required.