6.4 Estimate Activity Durations

 

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6.4 Estimate Activity Durations The process of determining approximate durations to complete the work activities with estimated resources.    Simple Version: estimate the work required.   The estimates are “progressively elaborated” and consider the quality of the input data.
PMI	Agile PMBOK, Agile Difference, Comment
Inputs Activity list Activity attributes Activity resource requirements Resource calendars Project scope statement Enterprise environmental factors Organizational process assets   Tools and Techniques Expert judgment Analogous estimating Parametric estimating Three point estimates Reserve analysis   Outputs Activity duration estimates Project document updates	Inputs Activity list Activity attributes Stories Activity resource requirements Resource calendars Project scope statement Enterprise environmental factors Organizational process assets   Tools and Techniques Expert judgment Analogous estimating Parametric estimating Three point estimates Reserve analysis Group based estimation – Wideband Delphi (Planning Poker)     Outputs Activity duration estimates / Estimated backlog Project document updates   Activity estimation is usually done at a story level on agile projects. Approaches like Planning Poker have strong links to Wideband Delphi estimation techniques and fit well with the group based, iterative, consensus seeking principles employed on agile projects. Initially all the stories will not be identified, nor will reliable velocity figures be available. At the start of an agile project more traditional estimation approaches and used, then as iterations demonstrate true development rates, a shift in emphasis to more of the agile based estimation approaches can be safely made. Non development tasks can be estimated using traditional approaches and added to the story estimates.