Page 190 -

6 - PROJECT TIME MANAGEMENT

6.4.2 Estimate Activity resources: tools and techniques

6.4.2.1 Expert Judgment

Expert judgment is often required to assess the resource-related inputs to this process. Any group or person
with specialized knowledge in resource planning and estimating can provide such expertise.

6.4.2.2 Alternative Analysis

Many schedule activities have alternative methods of accomplishment. They include using various levels of
resource capability or skills, different size or type of machines, different tools (hand versus automated), and make-
rent-or-buy decisions regarding the resource (Section 12.1.3.5).

6.4.2.3 Published Estimating data

Several organizations routinely publish updated production rates and unit costs of resources for an extensive
array of labor trades, material, and equipment for different countries and geographical locations within countries.

6.4.2.4 Bottom-up Estimating

Bottom-up estimating is a method of estimating project duration or cost by aggregating the estimates of the
lower-level components of the WBS. When an activity cannot be estimated with a reasonable degree of confidence,
the work within the activity is decomposed into more detail. The resource needs are estimated. These estimates
are then aggregated into a total quantity for each of the activity’s resources. Activities may or may not have
dependencies between them that can affect the application and use of resources. If there are dependencies, this
pattern of resource usage is reflected and documented in the estimated requirements of the activity.

6.4.2.5 Project Management Software

Project management software, such as a scheduling software tool, has the capability to help plan, organize, and
manage resource pools and develop resource estimates. Depending on the sophistication of the software, resource
breakdown structures, resource availability, resource rates, and various resource calendars can be defined to assist
in optimizing resource utilization.

164 ©2013 Project Management Institute. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Fifth Edition
®

Licensed To: Jorge Diego Fuentes Sanchez PMI MemberID: 2399412
This copy is a PMI Member benefit, not for distribution, sale, or reproduction.