Chapter 7Preparing to Estimate (Precursors of Estimation)

The greatest challenge for an estimator is deciding where to start when faced with a blank sheet of paper. The warehouse problem described in Chapter 2, “Planning a Warehouse Inventory System,” illustrated how to develop estimates by identifying “pieces” (product components, delivered services, and project tasks), and then estimating the resources needed to buy or build each piece, and to perform each activity. This chapter describes specific ways to systematically decompose products, processes, and projects into pieces. Then you can apply the estimating techniques described in Chapter 5, “Estimating Techniques,” to these pieces.

Section 7.1 defines the “precursors to estimation.” Without ...

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