My company develops web products. On average, 60% of the project represents functional analysis and 40% represents programming and quality assurance.
We add to this a 15% project management. However, at this point no buffer is included. How to estimate a buffer specifically on the programming/quality assurance part? Is it a percentage based on risks? is this an expense item presented separately in the service proposal, is it included in the stories of the specifications? thank you for your advice Saving Changes...
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Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
You have different ways to figure out your buffer, Nelly. On the one hand you can identify it from your estimates. For example, in a three-point estimate, you could build your schedule and plan based solely on the optimistic estimates and create a buffer for the difference between pessimistic and optimistic. (In your scenario, your estimates are portions of a 100% pie. How do we know what is optimistic and pessimistic for each component?)
Alternatively, you could build your buffer through risk management. This is simply a more rigorous approach to the first one described above. Your risk action plans - mitigation, contingency, and fallback - will become your buffers. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
I don't suggest representing your buffer as a separate expense item. Making it visible invites stakeholders to question it and ask for its removal. That means you will have to build your buffers into your deliverables and/or activities. Saving Changes...
Latha Thamma reddiSr Product and Portfolio Management (Automation Innovation)| DXC TechnologyMckinney, Tx, United States
