Heaven or Hell: The Seven Deadly Sins of Project Estimating

  Estimating   PM Network  

The world of project management doesn’t seem like it would often overlap with theology (other than the occasional realization that only divine intervention could bring in certain projects on time and on budget). However, the seven deadly sins are remarkably applicable to project estimating.

#1: Greed

This sin normally applies to material wealth, but people can also hoard information. Greed and fear are often related, as was the case when our organization started on its journey to create a corporate culture steeped in system engineering.

The question often asked was, “Why are you asking me for my data?” The perception was that one group’s success was based on how poorly another performed.

Once it became clear that teams would not be penalized for what could have been perceived as project failures, we saw doubt and uncertainty turn into a willingness to share. Databases sprung up in the organization, and teams felt comfortable letting others base their estimates on past performance. This charitable teamwork helps us come up with numbers generated by experience and tools, rather than guesswork.

#2: Gluttony

As project managers, we’ve often seen others (OK, we’ve done it too) pad estimates with an extra 20 to 30 percent over what we truly believe it will take to complete a task. The problem is that when it is handed up …

Please log in or sign up below to read the rest of the article.