Project Estimating

Course Description | Outline | Project Management Home

Description

One of the biggest challenges a project manager faces is creating estimates.  Reliable estimates are required to determine budget, quality and schedule.  In turn these items are needed to make reasonable decisions and sound business plans. 

Yet there are still many organizations that have no standard method for creating and using estimates.  Many organizations cannot even agree on the definition of a “good estimate” or when estimates should be generated.  Often estimating is left to each individual to apply whatever knowledge they possess to the process. This leads to common misconceptions (estimating is primarily an “art”) and the misapplication of skills to the process (such as, negotiating, which is a valuable skill, but has little to do with estimating).

Because of this approach, little is done to reconcile actual performance with estimates and calibrate the process to improve accuracy in the future.

There is mounting evidence that organizations that lack a unified approach to estimating and fail to develop a formal method are much more likely to deliver project that fail to meet customer expectations.

This workshop is designed to prepare participants for the challenges of estimating, to provide them with a model for estimating throughout the project lifecycle, and to provide them with tools and techniques that can be used to create reliable estimates. 

A significant portion of the course will be spent on techniques that can be applied early in the project lifecycle, such as, Function Points and how to calibrate these techniques for improved performance.

Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Improve the reliability of early estimates
• Reduce frustration in the estimating process
• Improve project predictability
• Identify The Key Factors In An Effective Estimating Model
• Building Consistency Into Estimating Methods
• Develop more accurate estimates throughout the project lifecycle
• Overcome the challenges of estimating
• Contribute to the development of a unified estimating method for an organization
• Improving work processes

Audience

Those responsible for delivering quality estimates.  It is also useful for those who need to evaluate estimates made by others and those who must use those estimates for decision-making and planning purposes.

Prerequisites

Project management planning training or experience

Schedule

2 Days - 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

Price

$995 (discounts are available - click here for more information)

Location

UMBC Training Centers, South Campus, 1442 S. Rolling Road, Baltimore, MD 21227

Session Dates	Session Time	Register for Session
January 19-20, 2010	8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 



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