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Hamid Aougab
In this guided project you will learn how estimate the durations of your project activities. You will estimate the duration of your project activities, using techniques such as Expert Judgment, Analogy, and Parametric Estimation. Once you have developed a WBS (see Guided Project: Creating a WBS, for how to create one), and decompose the work packages (lowest elements in the WBS) into the necessary activities (See Guided Project: Creating a Project Network Diagram), you can use the bottom up estimation technique. To improve the accuracy of your estimate you will learn how to use the three-point estimation technique, taking into account risk and uncertainty. You will also learn how use statistics to come up with an Interval Estimate with a up to a 99% confidence level.
Read more
In this guided project you will learn how estimate the durations of your project activities. You will estimate the duration of your project activities, using techniques such as Expert Judgment, Analogy, and Parametric Estimation. Once you have developed a WBS (see Guided Project: Creating a WBS, for how to create one), and decompose the work packages (lowest elements in the WBS) into the necessary activities (See Guided Project: Creating a Project Network Diagram), you can use the bottom up estimation technique. To improve the accuracy of your estimate you will learn how to use the three-point estimation technique, taking into account risk and uncertainty. You will also learn how use statistics to come up with an Interval Estimate with a up to a 99% confidence level.
Read more
In this guided project you will learn how estimate the durations of your project activities. You will estimate the duration of your project activities, using techniques such as Expert Judgment, Analogy, and Parametric Estimation. Once you have developed a WBS (see Guided Project: Creating a WBS, for how to create one), and decompose the work packages (lowest elements in the WBS) into the necessary activities (See Guided Project: Creating a Project Network Diagram), you can use the bottom up estimation technique. To improve the accuracy of your estimate you will learn how to use the three-point estimation technique, taking into account risk and uncertainty. You will also learn how use statistics to come up with an Interval Estimate with a up to a 99% confidence level.
Note: This project works best for learners who are based in the North America region. We’re currently working on providing the same experience in other regions.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/jpe2bm/project
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What's inside
Syllabus
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what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Develops foundational project management skills, which are essential for success in a variety of industries
Provides hands-on practice in estimating project activity durations, a crucial skill for project managers
Leverages industry-standard techniques like Expert Judgment, Analogy, and Parametric Estimation for accurate estimations
Emphasizes risk and uncertainty considerations in estimation, ensuring more realistic and reliable results
Taught by industry experts with practical experience in project management
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Reviews summary
Practical project duration estimation
According to students, this course is a highly practical guided project designed to teach project activity duration estimation. Many praise its step-by-step, hands-on approach, particularly valuing the use of Excel for calculations and the clear explanations of techniques like three-point estimation. It is widely considered excellent for beginners or those needing a quick refresh of fundamental project management skills. However, some more experienced learners may find the content too basic or feel it provides excessive hand-holding, suggesting it might not be suitable for those seeking advanced theoretical depth. The course effectively delivers actionable techniques applicable in real-world scenarios.
Assumes or builds on prior project management knowledge.
"Once you have developed a WBS (see Guided Project: Creating a WBS, for how to create one), and decompose the work packages..."
"I understood that this course builds on previous project management topics like WBS."
"It seems designed to be a logical progression after completing WBS or network diagram guided projects."
Designed with a focus on learners in the North America region.
"This project works best for learners who are based in the North America region."
"I noted that the course specifically mentioned being optimized for learners in North America."
"It's important for prospective students to be aware of the regional focus."
Content and instructor explanations are largely clear and concise.
"Instructor was clear and concise. Loved the real-world examples. Made complex topics easy to grasp."
"Good content, clear explanations. ... especially the three-point estimation."
"The three-point method explanation was particularly good. Some parts felt a bit rushed, but overall valuable."
"I found the instruction very easy to follow and helpful for understanding the concepts."
Ideal for new learners or those needing a fundamental refresh.
"Good for absolute beginners though, if you have no prior PM experience."
"The course provides a good foundation, especially for those new to project scheduling."
"I found it perfect for a quick refresh, especially the three-point estimation."
"It's considered excellent for beginners or those needing a quick refresh of fundamental project management skills."
Focuses on hands-on application of project estimation techniques.
"Excellent practical application of project management concepts. The Excel-based exercises were very helpful for understanding the calculations."
"Fantastic guided project for applying estimation techniques directly. The step-by-step approach was perfect for building confidence for practical application."
"The exercises are practical, but ensure you have Excel installed and ready."
"It's a guided project so it's very hands-on, but sometimes I wished for more theoretical depth."
May be too basic or lack advanced theoretical depth.
"Useful techniques, but very basic. I already knew most of this."
"Too much hand-holding, not challenging enough. Felt like I was just following instructions without truly learning the 'why'."
"This course didn't really teach anything new. The content is easily found online. Disappointed, as I expected more practical advanced insights."
"It's very much a 'how-to' guide rather than a deep dive. Useful if you need a quick start into estimation."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Project Scheduling: Estimate Activity Durations with these
activities:
Review basic probability concepts
Show steps
Brush up on the fundamentals of probability theory, including basic concepts like events, sample spaces, and probability distributions, to ensure a solid foundation for your studies in this course.
Browse courses on
Probability
Show steps
-
Revisit notes or textbooks on probability concepts.
-
Solve practice problems to test your understanding.
-
Discuss probability concepts with peers or instructors to clarify any doubts.
Explore online tutorials on estimation techniques
Show steps
Enhance your understanding of estimation techniques by exploring online tutorials and resources, which will provide practical guidance and examples to supplement the concepts covered in class.
Show steps
-
Identify reputable online platforms or instructors offering tutorials on estimation techniques.
-
Select tutorials that cover the specific techniques you need to learn for this course.
-
Follow the tutorials, take notes, and practice the techniques.
Complete practice exercises on estimating project durations
Show steps
Reinforce your knowledge and skills by completing practice exercises that involve estimating project durations. This will help you develop proficiency in applying the techniques learned in class.
Browse courses on
Project Scheduling
Show steps
-
Access online or offline resources that provide practice exercises on project duration estimation.
-
Attempt the exercises, utilizing the estimation techniques covered in this course.
-
Check your answers and identify areas where you may need further practice.
Two other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all five activities
Develop a project plan with detailed activity durations
Show steps
Apply your skills by creating a comprehensive project plan that includes detailed estimations for the durations of individual activities. This will provide you with hands-on experience in implementing the concepts learned in the course.
Browse courses on
Project Scheduling
Show steps
-
Gather necessary project information and requirements.
-
Create a work breakdown structure (WBS) to decompose the project into activities.
-
Estimate the duration of each activity using appropriate techniques.
-
Develop a project schedule that outlines the sequence and dependencies of activities.
-
Document the project plan and share it with stakeholders.
Engage in peer discussions on estimation challenges
Show steps
Collaborate with peers to discuss common challenges and best practices in estimating project durations. Share experiences and learn from each other's perspectives to enhance your understanding and problem-solving abilities.
Show steps
-
Connect with classmates or join online forums dedicated to project management.
-
Identify topics or scenarios related to project duration estimation.
-
Facilitate or participate in discussions, sharing insights and seeking feedback.
-
Document key learnings and takeaways from the peer discussions.
Review basic probability concepts
Show steps
Brush up on the fundamentals of probability theory, including basic concepts like events, sample spaces, and probability distributions, to ensure a solid foundation for your studies in this course.
Browse courses on
Probability
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Revisit notes or textbooks on probability concepts.
- Solve practice problems to test your understanding.
- Discuss probability concepts with peers or instructors to clarify any doubts.
Explore online tutorials on estimation techniques
Show steps
Enhance your understanding of estimation techniques by exploring online tutorials and resources, which will provide practical guidance and examples to supplement the concepts covered in class.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify reputable online platforms or instructors offering tutorials on estimation techniques.
- Select tutorials that cover the specific techniques you need to learn for this course.
- Follow the tutorials, take notes, and practice the techniques.
Complete practice exercises on estimating project durations
Show steps
Reinforce your knowledge and skills by completing practice exercises that involve estimating project durations. This will help you develop proficiency in applying the techniques learned in class.
Browse courses on
Project Scheduling
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Access online or offline resources that provide practice exercises on project duration estimation.
- Attempt the exercises, utilizing the estimation techniques covered in this course.
- Check your answers and identify areas where you may need further practice.
Two other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all five activities
Develop a project plan with detailed activity durations
Show steps
Apply your skills by creating a comprehensive project plan that includes detailed estimations for the durations of individual activities. This will provide you with hands-on experience in implementing the concepts learned in the course.
Browse courses on
Project Scheduling
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Gather necessary project information and requirements.
- Create a work breakdown structure (WBS) to decompose the project into activities.
- Estimate the duration of each activity using appropriate techniques.
- Develop a project schedule that outlines the sequence and dependencies of activities.
- Document the project plan and share it with stakeholders.
Engage in peer discussions on estimation challenges
Show steps
Collaborate with peers to discuss common challenges and best practices in estimating project durations. Share experiences and learn from each other's perspectives to enhance your understanding and problem-solving abilities.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Connect with classmates or join online forums dedicated to project management.
- Identify topics or scenarios related to project duration estimation.
- Facilitate or participate in discussions, sharing insights and seeking feedback.
- Document key learnings and takeaways from the peer discussions.
Career center
Learners who complete Project Scheduling: Estimate Activity Durations will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Project Manager
Project Manager
Project Managers estimate the duration of project activities and manage uncertainty risks on a regular basis. This course will help build a strong foundation in the area of project estimation, which will be highly valuable to any manager in the field.
Business Analyst
Business Analyst
Business Analysts use estimation techniques in order to gauge the amount of time and resources that will be needed to implement a new project. This course will help budding Business Analysts develop the skills needed for mapping out the appropriate duration for each project activity.
Quality Assurance Manager
Quality Assurance Manager
Quality Assurance Managers use parametric estimation to determine quality standards for products and services. This course will provide a solid foundation in the three-point estimation technique, a concept that will be highly useful for Quality Assurance Managers.
Construction Manager
Construction Manager
Construction Managers have to estimate the duration of project activities in order to calculate costs and create a project schedule. This course will help Construction Managers refine their estimation techniques for determining the time needed for construction activities.
Product Manager
Product Manager
Product Managers often use analogy-based estimation to estimate the time needed for project activities. This course will help Product Managers hone their estimation skills in order to create better project timelines.
Software Developer
Software Developer
Software Developers may use bottom-up estimation to determine the time needed for coding activities. This course will provide Software Developers with the tools to estimate activities and ensure timely project completion.
Event Planner
Event Planner
Event Planners regularly use expert judgment to estimate the duration of project activities. This course will help Event Planners refine their estimation techniques to ensure events run smoothly.
Program Manager
Program Manager
Program Managers must be able to estimate the duration of program activities in order to create an accurate project plan. This course will teach Program Managers advanced estimation techniques that can be used to improve project timelines.
Financial Analyst
Financial Analyst
Financial Analysts use parametric estimation to forecast future financial performance. This course will provide Financial Analysts with the skills needed to accurately estimate project activities and improve their forecasting models.
Management Consultant
Management Consultant
Management Consultants use three-point estimation to evaluate project risk and uncertainty. This course will provide Management Consultants with the skills needed to estimate project activities and identify potential risks.
Operations Manager
Operations Manager
Operations Managers use bottom-up estimation to determine the time needed for operational activities. This course will provide Operations Managers with the skills needed to estimate project activities and improve operational efficiency.
Sales Manager
Sales Manager
Sales Managers may use analogy-based estimation to estimate the time needed for sales activities. This course will provide Sales Managers with the skills needed to estimate project activities and create better sales plans.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers may use expert judgment to estimate the duration of marketing activities. This course will help Marketing Managers refine their estimation techniques to ensure successful marketing campaigns.
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Managers may use three-point estimation to evaluate project risk and uncertainty. This course will provide Human Resources Managers with the skills needed to estimate project activities and identify potential risks.
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistants may use analogy-based estimation to estimate the time needed for administrative tasks. This course will provide Administrative Assistants with the skills needed to estimate project activities and improve their time management.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/jpe2bm/project
Reading list
We've selected eight books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Project Scheduling: Estimate Activity Durations.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Primavera P6, a popular project management software program. It covers all aspects of the program, from basic scheduling to advanced project management techniques.
Save
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of project management. It covers all aspects of the project management process, from project planning to project closeout. It valuable resource for students and professionals alike.
Provides a comprehensive overview of estimating and costing for civil engineering projects. It covers all aspects of the estimating process, from project planning to project closeout. It valuable resource for students and professionals alike.
Provides a comprehensive overview of project management. It covers all aspects of the project management process, from project planning to project closeout. It valuable resource for students and professionals alike.
Provides a comprehensive overview of project management. It covers all aspects of the project management process, from project planning to project closeout. It valuable resource for students and professionals alike.
Provides a comprehensive overview of construction scheduling and control. It covers all aspects of the scheduling process, from project planning to project closeout. It valuable resource for students and professionals alike.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the PMBOK® Guide. It covers all aspects of the project management process, from project planning to project closeout. It valuable resource for students and professionals alike.
Provides a comprehensive overview of project management. It covers all aspects of the project management process, from project planning to project closeout. It valuable resource for students and professionals alike.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/jpe2bm/project
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