
Few projects are exactly the same size and complexity, so the estimate must be adjusted upward or downward to account for the differences. If a similar project cost a certain amount, then it is reasonable to assume that the current project will cost about the same. Analogous EstimateĪn estimate that is based on other project estimates is an analogous estimate. Estimates in the earliest stages of project selection are usually based on information from previous projects that can be adjusted- scaled-to match the size and complexity of the current project or developed using standardized formulas. They rely more on the expert judgment of experienced managers who can make accurate estimates with less detailed information. The methods used to estimate the cost of the project during the selection phase are generally faster and consume fewer resources than those used to create detailed estimates in later phases. The estimates must be accurate enough so that the comparisons are meaningful, but the amount of time and resources used to make the estimates should be appropriate to the size and complexity of the project. To compare the simple paybacks or internal rates of return between projects, an estimate of the cost of each project is made. Estimating Costs to Compare and Select Projectsĭuring the conceptual phase when project selection occurs, economic factors are an important consideration in choosing between competing projects. Now you are ready to build your budget plan. That way, you know the assumptions made when you were coming up with the numbers. It’s important to keep all of your supporting estimate information. Once you apply all the tools in this process, you will arrive at an estimate for how much your project will cost. It is the amount of money it takes to do the project right. Cost of quality is just a way of tracking the cost of those activities. Since it’s cheaper to find bugs earlier in the project than later, there are always quality costs associated with everything your project produces.


Any materials you use to build the project (e.g., wood or wiring) will be charged at a rate too.

When you make an estimate early in the project without knowing much about it, that estimate is called a rough order-of-magnitude estimate (or a ballpark estimate). Often, when you come into a project, there is already an expectation of how much it will cost or how much time it will take. It is now possible to track the project according to that budget while the work is ongoing. Once this is compiled, you add up the cost estimates into a budget plan. It is important to come up with detailed estimates for all the project costs. But no matter whether your project is big or small, and no matter how many resources and activities are in it, the process for figuring out the bottom line is always the same. That’s why no project plan is complete until you come up with a budget. If you had a bigger budget, you could probably get more people to do your project more quickly and deliver more.
