Realising web effort estimation

Abstract

Context: Reliable effort estimation is essential for better management of Web projects, hence the need to identify what are the key factors that affect effort estimates for new Web projects and how they are inter-related. Objective: This paper improves our understanding of Web effort estimation using as basis the knowledge of Web effort estimation experts. Method: We employed qualitative research with the participation of four different Web development companies in Manaus (Brazil) using semi-structured interviews for data collection; our data analysis was carried out using Grounded Theory-based procedures to identify and combine factors affecting the estimation effort of Web projects. Results: We identified four main groupings (categories) of factors - Web project, Web development complexity, Web development team, and Clients. Each of these groupings contains a set of factors that impact upon Web effort estimation. Conclusions: This is the first time that qualitative research is employed in the field of Web effort estimation to further understand and help improve this process. In addition, some of the factors found had never been identified in any of the previous studies in this field, thus suggesting that the use of Grounded Theory-based procedures may provide a way to enrich our understanding of the phenomenon under investigation via the identification of factors that overlap and also complement those from previous studies.