6.3 Estimate Activity Resources
• The process of estimating the type and quantities of
material, people, equipment or supplies required to
perform each activity
• Closely related to the Estimate Costs process (7.1) and
normally done simultaneously
• Sometimes the resources are captured in project
management software, most particularly human resources
• Supplementary registers are often maintained for non
human resources
Monitor
• Occurs during the Planning Phase
Initiation
Planning Execution
Close
Control
Adapted from PMBOK 4th Edition
BSBPMG503A Manage Project Time
6.3 Estimate Activity Resources
• Inputs to Estimate Activity Resources
 Activity list and attributes
 Resource Calendars
 Resource availability and skills
 Staffing policies and procedures
 Procurement policies and procedures
• Tools and techniques to Estimate Activity Resources
Alternatives
Analysis
Published
Estimating
Data
Bottom-Up
Estimating
Expert
Judgement
Project
Management
Software
Adapted from PMBOK 4th Edition
BSBPMG503A Manage Project Time
6.3 Estimate Activity Resources
• Published Estimating Data
 Many industries (eg Construction) have standard production
rates and unit costs for common activities
• Bottom-Up Estimating
 Decomposing activities into more detail to assist with
estimation
• Project Management Software
 Can assist with planning, organising and managing
resources
Monitor
 Different levels of sophistication
Initiation
Planning Execution
Close
Control
Adapted from PMBOK 4th Edition
BSBPMG503A Manage Project Time
Practical Tips to Estimate Duration
• Experience has taught me that often the best way to
estimate the duration of an activity is to ask the person
who will be performing the activity to make an estimate
• I have also learnt that most people are –
– Optimistic so that they underestimate the work effort
required;
– Assume they are productive for more hours per day than
they really are; and
– Fail to include rework and sign off activities as part of
their estimate
• In practice I will double, or sometimes triple, these
estimates before putting them in the project schedule
BSBPMG503A Manage Project Time
6.3 Estimate Activity Resources
• Outputs of this process include –
 Activity Resource Requirements
– Captured in project management software or supplementary registers
 Resource Breakdown Structure
– Hierarchical chart of resources required
– Commonly depicted as the project organisation structure for human
resources
 Revised Activity List and Attributes
 Revised Resource Calendar
– Resources marked as unavailable
Monitor
Initiation
Planning Execution
Close
Control
Adapted from PMBOK 4th Edition
BSBPMG503A Manage Project Time