HKSM
Estimate Costs
The effort to produce a realistic estimate of the funds required to finish all project work.
Key Points
- Calculates expected costs for activities, resources, and procurements, including direct, indirect, and reserve amounts.
- Uses methods such as analogous, parametric, bottom-up, three-point estimating, and vendor bid analysis.
- Produces cost estimates and the basis of estimates; may update assumptions, risks, and resource information.
- Feeds the Determine Budget process and funding needs; estimates are refined as more data becomes available.
Example
A project manager for a software rollout estimates developer effort, software licenses, cloud hosting, training, and travel. They apply a parametric rate per story point, gather vendor quotes for licenses, and add contingency reserves for integration risks. The resulting figures are used later to build the cost baseline.
PMP Example Question
During planning, a PM quantifies the likely costs for labor, materials, equipment, and includes contingency for identified risks. Which process is being performed?
- Plan Cost Management
- Estimate Costs
- Determine Budget
- Control Costs
Correct Answer: B — Estimate Costs (estimating the funds needed to complete the work)
Explanation: Estimate Costs focuses on forecasting the monetary resources for project work; Determine Budget aggregates those estimates into an authorized cost baseline.
