‘Leads and Lags’ is a technique of several processes in the area of Project Schedule Management according to PMI’s Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®, 6th ed., ch. 6.3.2). They refer to the potential advance or delay of activities within a project schedule and are essential when it comes to scheduling activities on …
The success of a business project relies heavily on a number of factors: individual and collective expertise of the team members, budget, resources, communication, and productivity among other things. Productivity, however, is becoming a serious concern for many project-based firms. According to a recent productivity survey by VoucherCloud that interviewed nearly 2,000 employees, the average …
How Project Management Software Improves Productivity Read More »
Before you begin developing the schedule of a project, you need to know the expected durations of all activities of a project. Project management frameworks such as the PMI’s PMBOK contain different tools and techniques for estimating durations. The expected amount of time for the completion of an activity is the basis for developing the …
Estimating Activity Durations: Definition, Methods, Practical Uses Read More »
Bottom-up estimating is a technique that involves estimations on a granular level for parts of a project. These are then aggregated to a total estimate for the entire project. It is often referred to as one of the most accurate ways of estimating. Estimating cost, duration or resource requirements of a project typically starts with …
Bottom-Up Estimating – Definition, Example, Pros & Cons Read More »
Projects take place in organizations that are normally applying a form of performance management. Do you know the balanced scorecard, for instance? – “Of course!” You will say. It has been on everyone’s lips for many years and is used in many companies. The performance prism is a related concept that emphasizes the needs of …
Performance Prism for Performance & Stakeholder Management Read More »
The Balanced Scorecard, or Integral Scorecard, is a strategic management methodology used to define and monitor the strategy of an organization. Robert Kaplan and David Norton created this methodology in 1992 (original article). The Balanced Scorecard was originally developed as a tool to implement the corporate strategy and is a common method in companies of …
Balanced Scorecard in Project Management – Uses, Pros & Cons Read More »
The PMI methodology, set out in the Project Management Body of Knowledge, introduces the number of potential communication channels as a part of the communication requirements analysis. This type of analysis is a tool and technique of the “Plan Communications Management” process (ch. 10.1.2 in the PMBOK®, 6th edition). The goal of this analysis is …
Number of Communication Channels (+ PMP® Formula & Calculator) Read More »
Analogous estimating is a common technique in project management to determine cost, schedule or resource estimates. It is often used in situations where a rough estimate meets the needs of the stakeholders or at a time when not many details are known about a project (source). Applying the technique involves the selection of similar projects, …
How to Do Analogous Estimating – an Illustrated 5-Step Guide Read More »
Analogous estimating is a top-down estimation technique for estimating the cost, resources and durations of projects (according to PMBOK®, 6th edition, ch. 6.4.2, 7.2.2, 9.2.2). While it is less accurate than other methods, it can be used to produce an order of magnitude or an initial estimate. Therefore, it is a common technique during the selection or …
Analogous Estimating | Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons Read More »
When you are preparing for your PMI-ACP exam, studying formulas has probably not been your top priority so far. Although the PMI-ACP exam puts less emphasis on calculations than other certifications (such as the PMP, for instance) you should be familiar with a few formulas. As they are not overly complicated, they are ‘quick wins’ …
PMI-ACP® Formulas for 19 Agile Metrics (incl. Explanations) Read More »