Better Project Estimation Through Science!

Johnnie_Fox

 

Many of us have seen a two-paragraph document listing the "scope of services" for a potential project.  The client would like an estimate within a tight deadline, say 48 hours, without providing more details to help you deliver that required fixed bid contract.  Meanwhile, many teams have also been given (or created) a detailed PRD or backlog document and still had a project budget balloon out of control. What gives?  

In this session, I will discuss not only the problems associated with estimation and how to avoid them, but more importantly how we can plan for them, turning our estimation process into a science more than an art.  


The problem with software estimation

  • The morale 
  • The metrics 
  • The reality - an estimation metaphor 

Avoiding Risk

  • Project entry point of sale 
    • At what point of the project lifecycle is your first sale? 
  • Risk association with point of sale 
  • Products in the front, estimations in the back

The Elusive Discovery phase

  • How to estimate a discovery 
  • How to sell a discovery 
  • How to include discovery in a full fixed bid RFP

Planning for Risk

  • Estimation types 
    • Gut - An art form 
    • Comparables - An art/science 
    • Factors/formula - A science 
  • Contingency 
    • Rating systems 
    • Formulas 
    • Granularity

Covering your bases

  • Giving more than just a number 
    • Inputs 
    • Activities 
    • Deliverables 
    • Assumptions
  • Tooling/Team 
    • Stock Assembly
    • Estimator - you’re going to pay for it one way or another

Register NOW

Session Track

Project Management

Experience Level

Beginner

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