Estimativa de custos em ambiente de desenvolvimento de software ágil para empresas de pequeno e médio porte

Abstract

Cost estimation in agile software development environments remains a recurring challenge for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), particularly due to constraints related to organizational maturity, methodological practices, and limited resources. In this context, this study examines how companies adopting agile methodologies perform cost estimation and explores more consistent and systematized alternatives to support this process. The main objective of this research is to develop a cost estimation model tailored to the specific characteristics of SMEs that employ agile methods in software projects. The methodological approach is grounded in the analysis of the scientific literature and in the identification of recurring challenges reported in previous studies, enabling the proposal of a conceptual model accompanied by guidelines to support its practical application in agile environments. The findings indicate that the proposed model demonstrates conceptual coherence and potential practical applicability, particularly in organizational contexts with limited resources, although the lack of empirical validation in a real-world setting prevents the acquisition of conclusive quantitative evidence. The contributions of this work include the provision of a theoretical artifact that systematizes cost estimation in agile environments for the academic community and the proposal of a model aligned with the realities of SMEs for industry practitioners. Furthermore, this study lays the groundwork for future research on agile cost estimation supported by Artificial Intelligence and hybrid techniques.