Publication number: ELQ-90973-1
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How to estimate task duration ?
Estimating the time of a project task may seem like a game of riddles. Here are 5 ways to estimate task duration.
Introduction
Estimating the time of a project task is a game of riddles🎲⏰. Here are three things to take into account when you approach this exercise in project management.
• We struggle to estimate the duration of a task or an activity🤯
• We tend to take the time allotted to us by our manager rather than the time that we really need to carry out a task👨🏻💼
• We should always foresee delays on the schedule of a project👁
Even if it seems difficult to calculate task duration, you have to calculate all the variables the best you can and determine a window in which you are certain that the work will be finished.📝➕➖
Here are 5 options for you to estimate task duration.
- Step n°1 |
Professional judgement
Using somebody’s expertise from the team who knows exactly what the task is. They can tell you how long it will take depending on their previous experience🗣🕘.
If you do not have the information internally, you can call an expert and use their contribution🤓📞.
- Step n°2 |
Group judgement
Another way to include more voices in the estimating process means using the wisdom of the team👥.
Discuss the problem and the activities together and make an estimate from the results of this conversation🗣🧠.
It’s not particularly scientific, but this can be a good way to reach a consensus, especially if you have not already done this type of work👨🏻💼.
