Ch6.5 - Estimate Activity Duration

Question 1

Estimate Activity Durations

Answer 1

process of estimating the number of work periods needed to complete individual activities with estimated resources

Question 2

Estimate Activity Durations Benefit

Answer 2

provides the amount of time each activity will take to complete, which is a major input into the Develop Schedule process

Question 3

Inputs for Estimate Activity Durations(10)

Answer 3

EEF, OPA, Sched Mgmt Pln, Activity list, activity attributes, activity resource requirements, resource calendars, project scope statement, risk register, resource breakdown structure

Question 4

TT for Estimate Activity Durations (6)

Answer 4

expert judgement, analogous estimating, parametric estimating, three-pt estimating, group decision making techniques, reserve analysis

Question 5

Outputs for Estimate Activity Durations (2)

Answer 5

activity duration estimates, project doc updates

Question 6

Input for Estimate Activity Durations: Schedule Management Plan

Answer 6

defines the method used and the level of accuracy along with other criteria required to estimate activity durations including the project update cycle.

Question 7

Input for Estimate Activity Durations: Activity List

Answer 7

activity list identifies the activities that will need duration estimates.

Question 8

Input for Estimate Activity Durations: Activity Attributes

Answer 8

primary data input for use in estimating durations

Question 9

Input for Estimate Activity Durations: Activity resource reqts

Answer 9

level to which the resources assigned to the activity meet the requirements will significantly influence the duration of most activities. For example, if additional or lower-skilled resources are assigned to an activity, there may be reduced efficiency or productivity due to increased communication, training, and coordination needs

Question 10

Input for Estimate Activity Durations: Resource Calendars

Answer 10

resource calendars influence the duration of schedule activities due to the availability of specific resources, type of resources, and resources with specific attributes.

Question 11

Input for Estimate Activity Durations: Project Scope Statement

Answer 11

assumptions and constraints from the project scope statement are considered when estimating the activity durations; Ex: Existing conditions,
Availability of information, and
Length of the reporting periods.

Question 12

Input for Estimate Activity Durations: Risk Register

Answer 12

list of risks, along with the results of risk analysis and risk response planning.

Question 13

Input for Estimate Activity Durations: Resource Breakdown Structure

Answer 13

provides a hierarchical structure of the identified resources by resource category and resource type.

Question 14

Input for Estimate Activity Durations: Enterprise Environmental Factors

Answer 14

Duration estimating databases and other reference data,
Productivity metrics,
Published commercial information, and
Location of team members.

Question 15

Input for Estimate Activity Durations: Organizational Process Assets

Answer 15

Historical duration information,
Project calendars,
Scheduling methodology, and
Lessons learned.

Question 16

TT for Estimate Activity Durations (6): Expert Judgment

Answer 16

duration estimate information

Question 17

TT for Estimate Activity Durations (6): Analogous Estimating

Answer 17

estimating the duration or cost of an activity or a project using historical data from a similar activity or project; gross value estimating approach, adjusted for known differences in project complexity. Used when when there is a limited amount of detailed information about the project. Less costly, less accurate. most reliable when the previous activities are similar in fact and not just in appearance

Question 18

TT for Estimate Activity Durations (6): Parametric Estimating

Answer 18

algorithm is used to calculate cost or duration based on historical data and project parameters. Uses a a statistical relationship between historical data and other variables (e.g., square footage in construction) to calculate an estimate for activity parameters, such as cost, budget, and duration. multiplying the quantity of work to be performed by labor hours per unit of work.

Question 19

TT for Estimate Activity Durations (6): 3 point estimateing

Answer 19

considering estimation uncertainty and risk. PERT. tE = (t0 + 4tM + tP) / 6

Question 20

TT for Estimate Activity Durations (6): Group decision-making techniques

Answer 20

brainstorming, the Delphi or nominal group techniques, improves accuracy/commitment by involving group

Question 21

TT for Estimate Activity Durations (6): Reserve analysis

Answer 21

buffer. Monte Carlo simulation, contingency reserve

Question 22

Outputs for Estimate Activity Durations (2): Activity Duration Estimates

Answer 22

quantitative assessments of the likely number of time periods that are required to complete an activity

Question 23

Outputs for Estimate Activity Durations (2): Project Documents Updates

Answer 23

Activity attributes; Assumptions made in developing the activity duration estimate, such as skill levels and availability, as well as a basis of estimates for durations.