7.0 Project Cost Mgmt Terms

Question 1

An estimating approach that starts from zero, accunts for each component of the WBS, and arrives at a sum for the project. It is completed with the project team and can be one of the most time-consuming and most reliable methods to predict project costs

Answer 1

Bottom up estimating

Question 2

this estimate is also somewhat broad and is used early in the planning processes and also in top-down estimates. The range of variance for this estimate can be from -10% to +25

Answer 2

budget estimate

Question 3

A cost-estimating approach that uses a database, typically software-driven, to create the cost estimate for a project.

Answer 3

Commercial database

Question 4

A contingency allowance to account for overruns in costs. contingency allowance are used at the project manager’s discretion and with management’s approval t counteract cost overruns for scheduled activities and risk events.

Answer 4

Contingency reserve

Question 5

Costs are parallel to each WBS work package. The costs of each work package are aggregated to their corresponding control accounts. Each control account then is aggregated to the sum of the project costs.

Answer 5

Cost aggregation

Question 6

A time-lapse exposure of when the project monies ae to be spent in relation to cumulative values of the work completed in the project.

Answer 6

cost baseline

Question 7

the cost aggregation achieved by **assigning specific dollar amounts for each of the scheduled activities **or more likely for each of the work packages in the WBS. cost budgeting applies the cost estimates over time.

Answer 7

Cost budgeting

Question 8

a system that examines any changes associated with scope changes, the cost of materials, and the cost of any other resources, and the associated impact on the overall project cost.

Answer 8

cost change control system

Question 9

the cost management plan dictates how cost variances will be managed

Answer 9

cost management plan

Question 10

The monies spent to recover from not adhering to the expected level of quality. Examples may include rework, defect repair, loss of life or limb because safety precautions were not taken, loss of sales, and loss of customers. this is also know as cost of nonconformance to quality.

Answer 10

Cost of poor quality

Question 11

the monies spent to attain the expected level of quality within a project. Examples include training, teting, and safey precautions.

Answer 11

cost of quality

Question 12

This estimate type is of the most accurate. Its used late in the planning processes and is associated with bottom-up estimating. You need the WBS in order to create the definitive estimate. The range of variance for the estimate can be from -5% to +10%.

Answer 12

definitive estimate

Question 13

Costs attributed directly to the project work and cannot be shared among project (for example, airfare, hotels, long-distance phone charges, and so on)

Answer 13

direct costs

Question 14

An earned value management formula that predicts how much funding the project will require to be completed. Three variations of this formula are based on conditions the project may be experiencing.

Answer 14

Estimate to complete (ETC)

Question 15

Costs that remain constant throughut the life of the project (the cost of a piece of rented equipment for the project, the cost of a consultant brought on to the project, and so on)

Answer 15

fixed costs

Question 16

An organization’s approach to managing cash flow against the project deliverables based on a schedule, milestone accomplishment, or data constraints

Answer 16

funding limit reconciliation

Question 17

Costs that are representative of more than one project (for example, utilities for the performing organization, access to a training room, project management software license, and so on)

Answer 17

Indirect costs

Question 18

an event that will likely happen within the project, but when it will happen and to what degree is unknown. These events such as delays, are usually risk-related.

Answer 18

known unknown

Question 19

An approach that assumes the cost per unit decreases the more units workers complete, because workers learn as they complete the required work.

Answer 19

learning curve

Question 20

a market condition where the market is so tight that the actions of one vendor affect the actions of all the others

Answer 20

oligopoly

Question 21

the total cost of the opportunity that is refused to realize an opposing opportunity.

Answer 21

opportunity cost

Question 22

an approach using a parametric model to extrapolate what costs will be needed for a project (for example, cost per hour and cost per unit). It can include variables and points based on conditions

Answer 22

parametric estimating

Question 23

the final variance,, which is discovered only at the project’s completion. the formula is VAR = BAC - AC

Answer 23

project variance

Question 24

Regression analysis

Answer 24

This is a statistical approach to predicting what future values may be, based on historical values. Regression analysis creates quantitative predictions based on variables within one value to predict variables in another. This form of estimating relies solely on pure statistical math to reveal relationships between variables and to predict future values.

Question 25

cost reserves are for unknown unknowns within a project. The management reserve is not part of the project cost baseline but is included as part of the project budget

Answer 25

Reserve analysis

Question 26

This rough estimate is used during the initating processes and in top-down estimates. The range of variance for the estimate can be from -25% to +75%.

Answer 26

Rough order of magnitude

Question 27

Many vendors can provide what your project needs to purchase but you **prefer to work with a specific vendor. **

Answer 27

Single source

Question 28

Only one vendor can provide what you project needs to purchase. Examples include a specific consultant, specialized service, or unique type of material

Answer 28

sole source

Question 29

Monies that have already been invested in a project.

Answer 29

Sunk costs

Question 30

A formula to** forecast** the likelihood of a project to achieve its goals based on what’s happening in the project right now. There are two different flavors for the TCPI, depending on what you want to accomplish. If you want to see if your project can meet the budget at completion, you’ll use this formula: TCPI = (BAC – EV)/(BAC – AC). If you want to see if your project can meet the newly created estimate at completion, you’ll use this version of the formula: TCPI = (BAC – EV)/(EAC – AC).

Answer 30

To-Complete Performance Index

Question 31

Costs that change based on the conditions applied in the project (the number of meeting participants, the supply of and demand for materials, and so on)

Answer 31

Variable Costs

Question 32

The difference between what was expected and what was experienced

Answer 32

Variance