Cost estimation in software engineering projects with web components development

Résumé

A variety of models for the prediction of effort costs in software projects have been developed, including some that are specific for Web applications. In this research we tried to determine if the use of specific models is justified by comparing the cost behavior of Web and no-Web projects. We focused on two aspects of the cost calculation: the diseconomies of scale in software development and the impact of some project features that are used as cost drivers. We hypothesized that for these kinds of projects, diseconomies of scale are higher but the cost-increasing effect of the cost drivers is mitigated. We tested such hypotheses using a set of real projects. Our results suggest that both hypotheses hold. Thus, the present research's main contribution to the literature is that the development of specific models for the estimation of effort costs for the case of Web developments is justified.