We've been using Function Point Analysis (FPA) estimation for new software development projects and medium sized changes that involves development efforts for code involving database entities as well (where we plug in EIF, ILF, EI, and EQ information). This process seems to be working out very well for us organization wide.
However, what are the best estimation methods to estimate minor changes such as :
- Simple server side scripting changes that don't involve any database components.
- Trivial change requests that have very little code changes, for example UI design, realigning fields, changing error messages, and those sorts of changes.
Even though these changes are trivial, testers have to test it, leads have to review it, manager have to schedule it, and releases need to be planned for pre-production and production deployments.
A function point is a unit of measurement to express the amount of business functionality an information system provides to a user.
The OP may want to edit the question to reduce acronym density.