Username: Save?
Password:
Home Forum Links Search Login Register*
    News: Keep The TechnoWorldInc.com Community Clean: Read Guidelines Here.
Recent Updates
[November 08, 2024, 04:31:03 PM]

[November 08, 2024, 04:31:03 PM]

[November 08, 2024, 04:31:03 PM]

[November 08, 2024, 04:31:03 PM]

[November 08, 2024, 04:31:03 PM]

[October 17, 2024, 05:05:06 PM]

[October 17, 2024, 04:53:18 PM]

[October 17, 2024, 04:53:18 PM]

[October 17, 2024, 04:53:18 PM]

[October 17, 2024, 04:53:18 PM]

[September 09, 2024, 12:27:25 PM]

[September 09, 2024, 12:27:25 PM]

[September 09, 2024, 12:27:25 PM]
Subscriptions
Get Latest Tech Updates For Free!
Resources
   Travelikers
   Funistan
   PrettyGalz
   Techlap
   FreeThemes
   Videsta
   Glamistan
   BachatMela
   GlamGalz
   Techzug
   Vidsage
   Funzug
   WorldHostInc
   Funfani
   FilmyMama
   Uploaded.Tech
   MegaPixelShop
   Netens
   Funotic
   FreeJobsInc
   FilesPark
Participate in the fastest growing Technical Encyclopedia! This website is 100% Free. Please register or login using the login box above if you have already registered. You will need to be logged in to reply, make new topics and to access all the areas. Registration is free! Click Here To Register.
+ Techno World Inc - The Best Technical Encyclopedia Online! » Forum » THE TECHNO CLUB [ TECHNOWORLDINC.COM ] » Techno Articles » Management
  Project Management - Time Estimates and Planning
Pages: [1]   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Project Management - Time Estimates and Planning  (Read 531 times)
Sabbani Raju
Full Member
***


Karma: 0
Offline Offline

Posts: 249


View Profile Email
Project Management - Time Estimates and Planning
« Posted: November 30, 2007, 12:30:14 PM »




Accurate time estimation is a skill essential for good project management. It is important to get time estimates right for two main reasons:

1. Time estimates drive the setting of deadlines for delivery and planning of projects, and hence will impact on other peoples assessment of your reliability and competence as a project manager.
2. Time estimates often determine the pricing of contracts and hence the profitability of the contract /project in commercial terms.

Often people underestimate the amount of time needed to implement projects. This is true particularly when the project manager is not familiar with the task to be carried out. Unexpected events or unscheduled high priority work may not be taken into account.

Project managers also often simply fail to allow for the full complexity or potential errors and stuff ups, involved with a project. The 2004-2006 Wembley Stadium project in London is often used as an example, although there are countless others of less profile.

Time estimates are important as inputs into other techniques used to organise and structure all projects. Using good time estimation techniques may reduce large projects to a series of smaller projects.

Step 1 - Understand the Project Outcome
First you need to fully understand what it is you need to achieve. (Refer to my article; Project Management - Begin with the end in mind). Review the project /task in detail so that there are no ‘unknowns’. Some difficult-to-understand, tricky problems that take the greatest amount of time to solve. The best way to review the job is to just list all component tasks in full detail.

Step 2 - Estimate time
When you have a detailed list of all the tasks that you must achieve to complete the project then you can begin to estimate how long each will take.

Make sure that you also allow time for project management administration, detailed project, liaison with outside bodies’ resources and authorities, meetings, quality assurance developing supporting documentation or procedures necessary, and training.

Also make sure that you have allowed time for:
• Other high urgency tasks to be carried out which will have priority over this one
• Accidents and emergencies
• Internal/external meetings
• Holidays and sickness in key staff/stakeholders
• Contact with other customers, suppliers and contractors.
• Breakdowns in equipment
• Missed deliveries by suppliers
• Interruptions by customers, suppliers, contractors, family, pets, co- workers etc
• Others priorities and schedules e.g. local government planning processes
• Quality control rejections etc.
• Unanticipated events (e.g. renovating the bathroom finding white-ants/termites in the walls)

These factors may significantly lengthen the time and cost needed to complete a project.

If the accuracy of time estimates is critical, you will find it effective to develop a systematic approach to including these factors. If possible, base this on past experience. In the absence of your own past experience, ask someone who has already done the task or project to advise what can go wrong; what you need to plan for; and how long each task took previously.

You can lose a great deal of credibility, and money, by underestimating the length of time needed to implement a project. If you underestimate time, not only do you miss deadlines, you can also put other people under unnecessary stress.

Step 3 – Plan for it Going Wrong
Finally, allow time for all the expected and unexpected disruptions and delays to work that will inevitably happen. Sickness, strikes, materials not available, poor quality work, bureaucratic bungling etc.

Liz Cassidy, founder of Third Sigma International is an author, Speaker, Trainer and Executive and Performance Coach dedicated to facilitating results in the businesses, professional and personal lives of her clients. For more information http://www.thirdsigma.com.au.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liz_Cassidy

Logged

Pages: [1]   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Copyright © 2006-2023 TechnoWorldInc.com. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
Page created in 0.146 seconds with 24 queries.