Predicting the Unpredictable

Pragmatic Approaches to Estimating Project Schedule or Cost

by Johanna Rothman

You’d like to estimate your project’s cost or schedule accurately. So far, none of your approaches have worked. It’s time to consider how you can create an accurate estimate.

You might not be able to develop an estimate at the beginning of a project that is good until the end. Few project teams can. Instead, learn a number of ways to see your project, and how to address your uncertainties in ways your managers will accept.

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If you have trouble estimating cost or schedule for your projects, you are not alone. The question is this: who wants the estimate and why?

The definition of estimate is “guess.” But too often, the people who want estimates want commitments. Instead of a commitment, you can apply practical and pragmatic approaches to developing estimates and then meet your commitments. You can provide your managers with the information they want and that you can live with.

Learn how to use different words for your estimates and how to report an estimate that includes uncertainty. Learn who should—and should not—estimate. Learn how to update your estimate when you know more about your project.

Regain estimation sanity. Learn practical and pragmatic ways to estimate schedule or cost for your projects.

• Errata, typos, suggestions

Releases:

• P1.0 2015/06/16

Full Table of Contents

excerpt: Chapter 3

excerpt: Chapters 7 and 8

excerpt: Troubleshoot

Johanna Rothman, the “Pragmatic Manager,” offers frank, practical advice that you can immediately apply to your product development challenges.

She helps leaders and teams uncover effective alternatives to their current product development practices. Since one size never fits all, she works with her clients to explore options for what and how to change. The results? Leaders and teams learn to collaborate and focus on outcomes that matter.

With her trademark practicality and humor, Johanna is the author of 21 books, hundreds of articles, and thousands of blog posts about many aspects of management and product development. Find her monthly newsletter and blogs at jrothman.com and createadaptablelife.com.