This course is taught using a combination of lecture, group exercises and instructor feedback (primarily exercise wrap-up). The course objectives are met by participants demonstrating mastery of the skills through class discussions and exercise development.

What you will cover:

Introduction to Estimating

• Estimating Overview

• History of Estimating

• Successful Estimating

• Several Types of Estimating

• Two Rules of Thumb

• Estimating Expressions

• Common Issues Affecting Estimates

• The Importance of Estimates

• Overruns

• Organizational Structures and Estimates

Task Identification

• The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

• The WBS Methods

• WBS Formats

• Why Take the Time to Build a WBS

• Four Major Points to Support Estimate Reliability

      People Factors In Estimating

• Leadership, Trust and Honesty

• Authority

• Leadership Traits

• The Skills Inventory Matrix

      The Estimating Process

• Additional Checklists

• Databases

• The Steps Involved in Estimating

• Team Ownership of the Task and Effort Issues

• Effort Estimating

• Elapsed Time Estimate

• Baseline Estimating

• Estimating Checklist

• Using Different Estimating Methods

• Program Evaluation and Review Technique

• Bottom-Up Estimates

• Top Down Estimates

• Scope Reviews

      Project Costs and the Estimating Process

• Cash Flow Forecast

• Cost and Budget Plan

• Reporting Costs and Estimates

• Variance Report and Cause and Effect Issues

• Post Completion Audit

• Standard is Best

      Course Wrap-up