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Project Management Orientation

When Should an Estimate be Completed? 

As noted previously, there are different points in a project when an estimate should be prepared, reviewed, or revised.  These include:

You must develop the WBS before preparing an estimate, even if it is only the preliminary version. 
  
If you take over a project, you should prepare a new estimate or validate an existing estimate.  Review staffing and skill levels stipulated in the project proposal and assumptions.  Questions you should ask include:  Are the skill levels correct?  Are the hours assigned for tasks realistic?  Do the hours include time for holidays, vacation, and any other downtime?
  
The estimate should also be reviewed or reworked if an assumption becomes invalid.  Always document your assumptions as part of the estimate.  This helps explain an incomplete set of data and also helps make your estimate more credible and complete.

1: Getting Started
2: Define the Project Team
3: Team Management
4: Identify and Validate Requirements
5: Create Decomposition Structures
6: Risk Management
7: Project Estimates
8: Project Schedules
9: Change Management
10: Project Control and Execution
Defining the Project
11: Project Management Review
12: Project Closeout
13: Project Management Tool Suite
14: Self-Assessment and Final Exam
Fast Points
Concepts
Seven Keys
Case Study
WWPMM
Mentor
Check Point
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