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6.4 Estimate Activity Resources

"The process of estimating the type and quantities of material, human resources, equipment or supplies required to perform each activity."

The definition shown above in italics is taken from the Glossary of the Project Management Institute, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK® Guide) – Fifth Edition, Project Management Institute Inc., 2013

Project Management Institute, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK® Guide) – Fifth Edition, Project Management Institute Inc., 2013 Figure 6-12 Page 161

Estimating the type and quantities of material, people, equipment or supplies required to perform each activity.

Resources include:

  • labor
  • materials
  • facilities
  • equipment
  • consultants
  • services
  • supplies
  • utilities

Example: Resources for a seminar project

  • Data Projector, flipchart stands/pads/pens
  • Conference and breakout rooms.
  • Brochures, pamphlets, handouts.
  • Reprographics
  • Guest speakers.
  • Catering and IT support

Estimate Activity Resources

Leads to Estimate Activity Durations (6.5) and Estimate Costs (7.2)

Suggested steps:

  • Find out the resources necessary and their quantity.
  • Examine the scope statement to ensure all resources have been identified.
  • Identify alternatives for unavailable resources.
  • Consider organizational policies affecting resource acquisition and usage constraints.

Bottom-Up Resource Estimating

  • Estimates the resource for each work package.

  • Estimates are then rolled up (aggregated).
  • Used when:
    • More detail is available about the work packages.
    • More accurate estimates are needed.
    • There is time to invest in making the estimates.

Example: An events organizer using the bottom-up estimating technique, basing it on a detailed WBS for a large corporate event.

  • Is very accurate and gives lower-level managers more responsibility.
  • May be very time consuming and can be used only after the WBS has been well-defined.

Outputs

Activity Resource Requirements

  • Types and quantities of resources needed for each work package activity
  • Need to record assumptions as these may lead to risks

Resource Breakdown Structure

  • Hierarchy of resources by category and type

Project Document Updates

  • Activity list, activity attributes, resource calendars

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