In: Operations Management
Incorrect cost estimates can negatively impact project schedules. Consequently, it is critical to have an effective estimating process, which can vary by project. For this discussion, post the following:
Evaluation is an important part of project planning, especially
for scheduling and project costs. There are several assessment
techniques, including bottom-up evaluation. Learn about bottom-up
assessments and their advantages and disadvantages.
Lance is a construction project manager who needs to change his
approach to evaluation. He usually does not spend much time
evaluating, confident in using his experience with similar projects
as a guide. However, the last few projects he worked on exceeded
expectations, so he decided it was worth the effort to be more
accurate. He decides to try to evaluate bottom-up.
Bottom-up evaluation is a way of estimating total costs by
estimating prices for small components and using these sums as
total costs. In project management, this type of evaluation is used
to create a schedule or budget. Project work is usually broken down
or broken down into smaller components, and time and cost estimates
are assigned to each component. The schedule is determined by
summarizing each period's estimates, while the budget is determined
by summarizing individual cost estimates.
Planned to use this new method, Lane wants the support of his team
as well as the project stakeholders. It starts with the drawbacks
and advantages of using this method. From there, he plans to give
them practical examples using the method.
Lance's decision to accept a subordinate rating came after he
considered the trade and determined that the advantages outweighed
the disadvantages. The advantage of top-down evaluation is that it
leads to greater accuracy. That's what Lance needed. The accuracy
results as this method takes into account each component of the
project work. Accuracy is also achieved because assessments for
each component are provided by the person responsible for the
components: those who know the job well.
The main disadvantage of bottom-up evaluation is the time taken to
complete. While other forms of evaluation may use the high level
requirements used to begin the basic design process, top-down
evaluations require low-level components. To consider each element
of the project work, these components must be predetermined by
decay. The process is long and can be even more so when a large
amount or complex work is involved.
Another disadvantage of bottom evaluation is that it can be
expensive. The time spent destroying the project work is free. In
addition, assessments made for each component are provided by the
person responsible for completing the component. These team members
usually do not participate in the project during the planning
phase. Attract people, especially if they are contracted,
increasing the cost of planning, which increases the cost of the
project.
In general, a top-down evaluation is not the best choice for
projects that do not allow for long-term projects or projects that
do not have a contract, usually starting on the project sooner
rather than later. Lane can use this method because he has a
project team that can assist with the evaluation and because
stakeholders are more concerned with accuracy than speed.