The Project Management Tool Kit: 100 Tips and Techniques for Getting the Job Done Right

TIME PROCESS2Activity Duration Estimating (PMBOK^® 6.4, Estimate Activity Durations)

What:	Forecasting durations for all identified project activities.
When:	Project planning, execution, and control.
Results:	Duration estimates in workdays for all project tasks.

Determine Duration

Duration estimates are a central component of project plan development. For each listed task in your project activity definition, use responsibility analysis and other planning data to develop timing estimates, in workdays. Useful estimating ideas include:

• History (lessons learned, databases of diagnostic project metrics)

• Activity-owner analysis and personal experience

• Analogs (previous work of a similar type)

• Experts (consultants, peers, managers, ...