# Estimating the Effort Overhead in Global Software Development

**Authors:** Ansgar Lamersdorf, Jürgen Münch, Alicia Fernández-del Viso Torre, Carlos Rebate Sánchez, Dieter Rombach  
**arXiv:** [1401.2730](https://arxiv.org/abs/1401.2730)  
**Date:** 2014-01-13  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/1401.2730v1/

## Key points

- Models for effort and cost estimation are important in both distributed and collocated software development.
- Standard cost models do not adequately consider the unique characteristics of distributed development.
- Explicit cost models for distributed development are necessary.
- The article presents an initial development of a cost overhead model for a Spanish global software development organization using the CoBRA approach for cost estimation.
- Specific cost drivers for the distributed development context are identified and quantified on an empirical basis.
- The model can be included in an approach for systematic task allocation to help organizations better estimate costs associated with distributed software projects and allocate resources more effectively.
- Future refinements could incorporate additional factors such as cultural differences between sites and communication challenges into the model.

## Summary

The article titled "Estimating the Effort Overhead in Global Software Development" by Ansgar Lamersdorf, Jürgen Münch, Alicia Fernández-del Viso Torre, Carlos Rebate Sánchez, and Dieter Rombach highlights the importance of models for effort and cost estimation in both distributed software development and collocated software and system development. The authors argue that standard cost models do not adequately consider the unique characteristics of distributed development such as dissimilar abilities at different sites or significant overhead due to remote collaboration. Therefore, explicit cost models for distributed development are necessary. In this article, the authors present an initial development of a cost overhead model for a Spanish global software development organization using the CoBRA approach for cost estimation. They identify specific cost drivers for the distributed development context and quantify their impact on an empirical basis. The article also provides an overview of related work and its application in an industrial context. Furthermore, the authors sketch out how this model can be included in an approach for systematic task allocation to help organizations better estimate costs associated with distributed software projects and allocate resources more effectively. Additionally, they discuss potential future refinements to incorporate additional factors such as cultural differences between sites and communication challenges into the model. Overall, this article emphasizes the need for explicit cost models tailored to distributed software development contexts in order to accurately estimate costs associated with such projects. By identifying specific cost drivers and quantifying their impact on an empirical basis, organizations can make more informed decisions about resource allocation when undertaking global software developments.