Develop The Project Schedule— Estimate Activity Resources

By Author: Kimberly Bloch
Total Articles: 24
Comment this article

There are a number of approaches to managing project activities:

Tools and Techniques used to Estimate Activity Resources-

EXPERT JUDGEMENT is required to effectively assess resource-related inputs to the activity resource estimating process. This does not automatically mean that the project manager should exclusively perform this process. Any group or person specialized in resource planning and estimating can provide such input. The PMP exam will test exensively on this, students should work to be prepared and understand it.

ALTERNATIVE ANALYSES examine schedule activities that have several methods for completion. The analyses generate the "best" alternative considering the project and resources available.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE helps plan, organize, and manage resource pools and develop resource estimates. Depending on how sophisticated the program is, resource calendars, breakdown structures, resource availability and rates can be obtained. PMP exam prep will include specific examples of this as well as hands-on activities.

BOTTOM-UP ESTIMATING allows the project manager to decompose ...
... work within the schedule activity into more detail. The needs of each lower, detailed piece of work are estimated. These estimates are aggregated into a total quantity for each of the schedule activity resources.

Develop the Project Schedule— Estimate Activity Resources-

Expected output from performing the activity resource estimating process includes identification and description of the types and quantities of resources required for each schedule activity in a work package.

An output of activity resource estimating is the creation of a RESOURCE BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE (RBS). A resource breakdown structure (RBS) is a hierarchal structure of resources (by resource category and type) used in resource leveling schedules to develop resource-limited schedules.

THE COMPOSITE RESOURCE CALENDAR for the project documents when personnel or materials can be active or are idle, and when resource-specific holidays and resource availability periods occur.

REQUESTED CHANGES are a result of additional or deleted planned schedule activities on the activity list.

Develop the Project Schedule— Estimate Activity Durations-

ACTIVITY DURATION is the time in calendar units between the start and finish of a schedule activity.

All work effort required to complete the schedule activity, the assumed amount of resources to be applied to complete the schedule activity, and the number of work periods needed to complete the schedule activity, is estimated.

ASSUMPTIONS that support duration estimating are documented for each activity duration estimate.

ACTIVITY DURATION ESTIMATING is the time management process of estimating the number of work periods that will be necessary to complete activities.

Kimberly Bloch, To Get the proper pmp exam training to pass the pmp exam certification exam with flying colors. Visit the site- pmeducate.com, too for some useful hints on PMP Exam Prep.