Johnnie Fox, Project Manager at Promet delivers this overview on web development project estimation, how to do it right and the pitfalls to watch out for.
4. Estimating Sucks
Good estimates increase morale
Good estimates build reputations
There is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow unless
you put it there
9. Truism
The organization that most convincingly
underestimates the project has the highest chance
of being awarded the work.
10. Highly Structured
“High structure implies that the nature of the task defines
its outputs, the possibility of users changing their minds
about the desired outputs is practically nonexistent, and
significant change management issues are not present.”
1Harvard Business School Press (2004-02-19). Harvard
Business Essentials Managing Projects Large and Small: The
Fundamental Skills for Delivering on Budget and on Time
(Kindle Locations 220-223). Harvard Business Review Press.
Kindle Edition.
11. Types of Projects
New site
Site support
Migration Site to site
New features/existing site
16. PM Definition
A good estimate is an estimate that provides a clear
enough view of the project reality to allow the project
leadership to make good decisions about how to control
the project to hit its targets..
McConnell, Steve (2009-11-30). Software Estimation:
Demystifying the Black Art: Demystifying the Black Art
(Best Practices (Microsoft)) (Kindle Locations 534-536).
OReilly Media - A. Kindle Edition.
17. Estimation Process
Strategies to improve Estimates
Price what you know
Knowing when its different?
Ask someone who has done it before
Examine prior projects
18. Caution:
In a study of 300 software projects, Michiel van
Genuchten reported that developer estimates
tended to contain an optimism factor of 20% to
30% (van Genuchten 1991).Although managers
sometimes complain otherwise, developers don’t
tend to sandbag.
theirMcConnell, Steve (2009-11-30).
Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black
Art: Demystifying the Black Art (Best
Practices (Microsoft)) (Kindle Locations
1095-1096). OReilly Media - A. Kindle
Edition
20. Types of Time
Dev time
Themer Time
Project Management
Quality Assurance
DevOps/Sysadmin
21. WBS
Modified Delphi Estimation method.
Developed by Rand Corporation in the
40's
Fancy word for list - Work Breakdown
Structure (WBS)
Make estimate separate and then compare
• After lists are made members meet and compare lists.
• Everyone must participate.
• If there is no conflict and you didn't get any additions you are
doing it wrong.
28. Next Steps
Re-use Estimates
Stock assemblies?
Factors of Scale/size
Granularity
Sales use only tool
Estimation among other PMs
Real world feedback