Project configuration steps - Estimation

Estimations are a key tool in order to manage a project. An estimation may contain the figures concerning budget, balance and estimation at completion of working days and financials (to manage financials, the FM - Financial Management module is required).

Estimations can be managed from the Estimation section of the project. Every estimation refers to a spefic Estimation Date which influences the data shown. Actually, data are those calculated at the Estimation Date (e.g. only the timesheets occurring before the date are considered). The key input data managed in an estimation are budget and estimation to complete figures. All other figures are calculated based on them and on balance data which, on turn, derive from timesheets or cost occurrences.

Project estimation screen.

Basic settings

As a first step, it is recommended to check and update the basic settings of the estimations. This can be done with the QUICK ACTIONS command, choosing the Settings selection from the choices available.

Period Estimation Mode

This setting enables the structure of the estimation referring to time. The possible choices are; "Per Project", "Per Year" and "Per Month". "Per Project" means that the estimation data are referring to all the project duration. "Per Year" means that the estimation will be structured in different sections where to plan (e.g. budget) per each year (the numbers of years available will depend on project dates (in particular Internal Operational Start Date and Internal Operational End Date in General section). "Per month means that the estimation will be structured in different sections where to plan for each months. Again, the number of months will depend on project dates.

Detailed Estimation Mode

This setting enable to choose at what level are estimations made. "Per Resource" means that planning data (e.g. budget) are entered with the maximum detail level of the resource. "Per Activity and Resource" means that planning data will be entered at a higher detail level, per activity (according to the work breakdown structure of project activities) and per resource.

Available Sections

This setting allows to define which sections will be present in the estimation. Sections can be included by setting the corresponding checkbox. The available sections are: "Effort", "Expenses" and "Cost Items". "Effort" section allow to manage data concerning working days of resources. "Expenses" sections allow to manage data concerning expenses of resources (e.g. hotel, travel expenses). Finally, "Cost Items" expenses allow to manage specific cost occurrence for the project (e.g. the need to purchase goods or services).

Managed information

The rows of the estimation are automatically built based on data entered in other sections, in particular: Activities for project activities if Detailed Estimation Mode is set to "Per Activity and Resource", Resources for resources added to the project with On Budget property set to "True" and General/Project/Cost Occurrence Categories for cost occurrences.

Columns are predefined but their position can be changed bu drag&drop of their headers. Columns can also be added or hidden by means of the Displays menu to choose visible columns (last right icon of the bottom grid bar).

Available columns are described below.