5.1.2 Knowledge check (with solutions)
5.1.3 Bonus Assignment - Gantt chart Schedule
Estimate activity durations.
Overview
This learning module (Lesson 1 of Unit 5) is part of a course called Project Management Fundamentals and may either be completed individually as a stand-alone topic, or part of a trio of learning modules on time management, or as part of the course.
Learning outcomes.
Estimation of time is an essential tool in creating a project schedule. In this module, you'll learn about various techniques for time estimation, as well as learn about several of the common biases which may influence those estimates.
Upon successful completion of this module, you'll be able to:
- Demonstrate estimation techniques.
- Estimate time for each activity.
- Classify common cognitive biases.
What is time estimation? | 15 minute read
Read chapter 7 (Time Resource Estimation) of Christianson's Project Management Fundamentals text (PDF resource attached).
FYI: J. Scott Christianson is a professor at the University of Missouri and has an interesting website about technology (from AI to blockchain to crypto and everything in between).
How do I estimate time? | 7 minute read
Read this article about techniques for estimating time by SimpliLearn (2023).
How might my mind fool me when estimating? | 7 minute watch
What is the Monkey Business Illusion? | 2 minute watch
What are some other cognitive biases? | 5-15 minute activity
Explore this amazing codex of 188 cognitive biases, grouped into categories.
Use "find" function (Ctrl+F) to locate the following cognitive biases:
- Overconfidence,
- Anchoring and adjustment, and
- Availability.
Click on the links in the codex to launch a Wikipedia page devoted to the cognitive bias.
Then, explore several other biases on different parts of the codex.
Test your knowledge.
- Which of the following are among the most common estimation techniques? Check ALL that apply.
- Analogous
- Intuitive
- Parametric
- Three-point
- T/F: The construction of the world we have in our mind is objective and accurate.
- True
- False
- T/F: There are literally over a hundred cognitive biases that make our estimates of time inaccurate.
- True
- False
BONUS - Putting what you learned into action.
To support this idea of a project that allows students to apply what they've learned on an actual project, I have created a series of five transparent assignments:
- External Management - charter creation and stakeholder analysis
- Internal Management - team contract and RACI chart creation
- Scope Management - work breakdown structure and disctionary creation
- Schedule Management - Network analysis to identify critical path and Gantt chart creation
- Risk Management - Risk identification and analysis, creation of risk register
I have omitted the Cost Management competency group because often student projects do not have a budget, other than that of the students time.
Project Work 4 > Time Management
On a project you are planning or currently executing, create a Gantt chart schedule.
A set of transparent assignment instructions (resource attached) have been provided that includes the following:
- the purpose of the assignment,
- the knowledge and skills that will be developed by the assignment,
- the task involved,
- a checklist of what will need to be accomplished,
- a rubric of how to assess your work, and
- a sample of finished work.
Transparent assignments are a way for you to get clarity on expectations (see the "Unwritten Rules").