Paolo CornaliProject Manager| HTA srlBrescia, Lombardia, Italy
I agree with Rami and Suhail. Padding is a bad practice. In particular considering that if the customer understands or feel that you have padding, you have lost the customer trust for ever. I think that a PM should always be customer oriented and padding goes in the opposite direction from this principle.
A risk analysis with an higher level of contingency should be performed if you don't have enough information to do an estimate.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Jan 12, 2016 12:44 AM
Replying to Paolo Cornali
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I agree with Rami and Suhail. Padding is a bad practice. In particular considering that if the customer understands or feel that you have padding, you have lost the customer trust for ever. I think that a PM should always be customer oriented and padding goes in the opposite direction from this principle.
A risk analysis with an higher level of contingency should be performed if you don't have enough information to do an estimate.
I totally agree with you Paolo - Very Well Said ! Saving Changes...
Ashok PatraProject Manager| Tech Mahindra LtdBhubaneswar, Odisha, India
I also agree to the point that PADDING is not acceptable where as creating contingencies for time and cost is used as a risk mitigation strategy. The project manager or any person in that position has to make all the effort to avoid padding at all levels of estimation. I think, we can achieve zero padding by making the information available which might lead to this.
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Jan 25, 2016 12:28 PM
Rami Kaibni
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Even if information is not available Ashok, you use Risk Management and Reserves.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Jan 25, 2016 9:56 AM
Replying to Ashok Patra
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I also agree to the point that PADDING is not acceptable where as creating contingencies for time and cost is used as a risk mitigation strategy. The project manager or any person in that position has to make all the effort to avoid padding at all levels of estimation. I think, we can achieve zero padding by making the information available which might lead to this.
Even if information is not available Ashok, you use Risk Management and Reserves. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Single advantage could be a successful project deployment despite of lags. What are thoughts on this?
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Sep 08, 2016 12:30 AM
Rami Kaibni
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You mean padding would add value ?
Saving Changes...
Altha WeaverSr. Manager, Business Administration| Maryland Stadium AuthorityBaltimore, Md, United States
Thanks all for helping me to understand more about the differences between padding and adding contingency to a project. Your discussion was extremely informative in a easy to follow tone.
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Sep 08, 2016 12:29 AM
Rami Kaibni
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You're welcome - Im glad you found it useful Altha
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Sep 07, 2016 10:09 PM
Replying to Altha Weaver
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Thanks all for helping me to understand more about the differences between padding and adding contingency to a project. Your discussion was extremely informative in a easy to follow tone.
You're welcome - Im glad you found it useful Altha Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
You mean padding would add value ? Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
First of all, as far as I know, "padding" is not in the PMI vocabulary/lexicon/standards neither in other organizations related with project management. Second, the use of padding, because there is not explicit calculation method or formulas about that, adds more risk to the whole project because the inherent uncertainty (not calculated) has padding. Third, because there is no formal definition people usually confuse padding with buffers. Fourth, you allways are using a formula, explicit or implicit, to calculate extra time in your project. Just in case of implicit then it is based on your experience and is the moment where you are adding extra "something". If you have no enough information then you allways will do that. Think about your personal life. The problem here is when you do not manage it. It is catastrophic.
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Sep 08, 2016 1:39 PM
Rami Kaibni
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Hi Sergio,
Thanks for sharing your opinion - I agree with your explanation. However, I got to know about padding while I was studying for my PMP so padding is mentioned somewhere in the PMI and explained in details in Rita's Book.
First of all, I need to say that I find the padding a bad practice, but I'll write down a situation to reactivate this interesting subject.
Situation
PM - Project Manager
T - Technician
AM - Account Manager
PM – Ask to technician the time that he/she needs to make a development.
T - Really need 1.5 days but he thinks that maybe he will find some issues (lack of information) then he tells to the PM 2 days.
PM - analyzes the data and includes +0.5 buffer or contingency, (As a PM we aren’t all subject mater experts…then is really a buffer or is a lack of information?)
AM - +0.5 benefits.
The client will receive a proposal for 3 days.
For all of us, is crystal clear that the account manger that he/she is doing properly and ethically their job. Benefits are benefits and all companies need to get it.
But why all us think that the Technician is padding?
From my point of view and based in my experience, best tool to avoid this kind of situations is communication and confidence or trust between the project manager and their team.
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2 replies by Rami Kaibni and Scott Sale
Sep 08, 2016 1:37 PM
Rami Kaibni
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Good Example Maria - Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Sep 08, 2016 2:28 PM
Scott Sale
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Agree, This is a very common and a good example to illustrate.
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