Estimation Techniques

In a humanitarian project aimed at constructing temporary shelters after a natural disaster, the project manager decides to estimate the duration for setting up each shelter based on the actual durations from similar past projects in different regions. However, the terrain and weather conditions in this region are significantly different. What estimating technique is being used, and what might be a potential risk?

• Parametric Estimating; Overestimating the duration due to conservative figures

• Three-Point Estimating; Underestimating due to optimism bias

• Analogous Estimating; Inaccurate estimates due to differing conditions

• Bottom-Up Estimating; Delays due to underestimation of smaller tasks

During the planning phase of an IT infrastructure upgrade project, the project manager uses a formula that considers the number of servers, the average setup time per server, and the expected efficiency rate of the team based on historical data. What estimating technique is this, and what is a key advantage of using it?

• Single-Point Estimating; Simplicity in estimation process

• Parametric Estimating; Increased accuracy due to statistical relationships

• Affinity Estimating; Quick categorization of tasks

• Analogous Estimating; Leverages past project data directly

In an agricultural project, the team uses historical data from previous planting seasons to estimate the effort required for various tasks like planting, irrigation, and harvesting. They compare new tasks to previously completed ones and group similar tasks together to provide a high-level estimate. What is this technique called, and what is a potential challenge?

• Planning Poker Estimating; Ensuring team alignment on estimates

• T-Shirt Sizing Estimating; Difficulty in maintaining consistency across categories

• Affinity Estimating; Subjectivity in task categorization

• Bottom-Up Estimating; Time-consuming due to detailed task breakdown

For a critical task in a healthcare project involving a nationwide vaccination rollout, the project manager asks team members to provide optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely duration estimates. The project manager then calculates a weighted average to estimate the task duration. Which technique is being used, and why might this approach be beneficial?

• Parametric Estimating; It provides precise estimates based on statistical data

• Single-Point Estimating; Simplifies the estimation process

• Three-Point Estimating; Accounts for uncertainty and variability

• Planning Poker Estimating; Encourages team consensus

In a banking project to implement a new financial system, the project manager breaks down each deliverable into smaller components such as software modules and interface designs. Estimates are made for each component and then aggregated to develop the overall project estimate. What is this technique known as, and what is a potential drawback?

• Analogous Estimating; Might overlook unique aspects of the current project

• Bottom-Up Estimating; Can be time-consuming and resource-intensive

• Three-Point Estimating; Requires extensive data for accurate results

• T-Shirt Sizing Estimating; May lead to oversimplification of tasks

In a construction project, the project manager decides to use a straightforward technique where a single estimate is given for the time required to complete the foundation work without considering variability or uncertainty. Which estimating technique is this, and what is a significant risk associated with it?

• Three-Point Estimating; Overly complex for simple tasks

• Single-Point Estimating; Increased risk of inaccuracy due to lack of contingency

• Parametric Estimating; May require more data than available

• Affinity Estimating; Might not be detailed enough for critical tasks

During a sprint planning meeting in a software development project, team members use a consensus-based technique where they estimate the effort required for user stories by discussing and selecting from predefined values on cards. What is this technique called, and what is its main advantage?

• Planning Poker Estimating; Encourages team collaboration and consensus

• Affinity Estimating; Quickly categorizes tasks into groups

• T-Shirt Sizing Estimating; Provides a simple and fast estimation

• Three-Point Estimating; Accounts for uncertainty and variability

In a project to develop an educational curriculum, the project team uses a technique where they categorize tasks such as lesson planning and content creation into different sizes (e.g., small, medium, large) based on their relative complexity and effort required. What is this estimating technique known as, and what is a potential limitation?

• Planning Poker Estimating; Requires significant team consensus

• Affinity Estimating; May introduce bias in task grouping

• T-Shirt Sizing Estimating; Can be subjective and inconsistent

• Bottom-Up Estimating; Time-consuming for detailed breakdown