Cyril LaurentSenior Project Manager| MEDIAN TechnologiesGreolieres, France
I wonder if some of you have been exposed or have been conducting studies allowing to estimate what is the cost in time of stopping an activity for 1 or several days and resuming it later.
Most of the litterature i found is about micro interruptions and multitasaking, which is a bit different.
What i am looking for is the cost for re-planning, follow ups with tasks assigned doers, and accumulating workload. Intuitively i see the cost is non neglictible but would like to see if models exist.
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
My recommendation is taking a closer look to SAFe proposal on estimate by WSJF estimation. I am not saying the you have to follow SAFe. Just in my case WSJF worked for me when cost of delay has to be consider to take a decision. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Cyril
This is a case by case issue as it depends on so many factors. Sometimes the cost of delay could be zero and sometimes it can be a significant. For example: Does the task fall on the critical path or not?
The situation itself makes a big difference in what the cost of delay will be.
I completely agree with Rami, but what you asked is also an extremely good question. Sometimes people see a PM as someone who reports that a task is late. A real PM reports that it is late if it matters rather than every late task, and the impact of those that do matter.
When it really does matter, a more detailed time study may be required to quantify the impact. Value stream maps, six sigma, and direct observations are a few ways that are used to build cost models to estimate the cost of delays.
Because of the variables and uncertainties, it can sometimes be difficult to produce believable cost values. I will often develop a 3 point estimate, where it can't be below X, above Y, and our best guess is Z because we think more fall to the high or low side. Then you can apply the PERT formula for the statistical mean, but that can also confuse people not familiar with the method. Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dear Cyril
Your question is very interesting
I share the same opinion as Rami
If it is on the critical path it can have a big impact on the project. Saving Changes...
I agree with Rami. If the task isn't on the critical path, it has a margin of time that can be delayed without affecting the project's total duration time.
For another part, if the task is on the critical path, the delay will be evidenced directly in the project's total duration. Saving Changes...
I agree with Rami. It depends on the case. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Salut Cyril,
I've had to stop a project for nearly a year before it was re-started. Besides the costs you've already pointed out, you have the inherent delays of different team members, cross- and re-learning, rebuilding environments and software stacks.
The client had stopped the project for lack of budget. When it was all said and done, the stop cost them an additional 50% on a three-year project.
You may have options to calculate the cost in terms of the efforts. How much efforts you would have been investing if it was not stopped for 1 day. Now see, if this task is on Critical path then calculate the cost of other items linked with this task.
You have the total cost lost using the above mechanism.
However, if you have interruptions beyond your control like any Public Emergency, in that scenario, you project completion will be postponed until unless you do not cover the Non working days.
But it makes more sense to calculate the cost if you really see the delay in Project due to stopping the activity. Saving Changes...
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Lots of good advice so far. Reflect on the following:
1. Is the task linked to a quotation from a vendor? In this case, the price might vary when the purchase order is issued (likely increased).
2. Is the task on the critical path and thus delaying the overall project completion? In this case, the benefits will likely be delayed, and the cost of delay should be factored in.
3. Is the task linked to critical team members that might not be available when the task is effectively started? Then consider the cost of sourcing new team members. Depending on their expertise, this might take a toll on the overall project cost.
In sum, assess the delay from all possible angles. Saving Changes...
cost comes from project plan, resource plan, if project delay, suggest to have detail plan for coming tasks, till end of project, then you can optimize the project plan, resource plan to control the cost. and cost can be looked by ITD, ETC, EAC. Saving Changes...
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