Cost estimation tools help you accurately estimate costs in project management. Also known as project estimation tools, they serve many purposes. For example, a business will use cost estimation tools to quote the correct price when bidding for a project.
You may use the cost estimation process during the project execution as changes occur, and you will probably repeat the process when the need arises.
In today’s blog post, I will discuss a few project estimation tools that can help you pinpoint the cost of project activities.
Let’s get started.
Cost Estimation Tools
Before discussing the estimating technique, let us have a quick look at the cost estimation process.
这US GAO将成本估计定义为“使用既定的方法和有效数据的个人成本要素的总结，以根据当今已知的内容估算程序的未来成本。”
这PMBOK Guide defines the cost estimation process as “the process of developing an approximation of the cost of resources needed to complete project work.” More simply, cost estimation is the process of forecasting the project’s cost with a defined scope.
从表面上看，这个过程看起来令人生畏，但是几种技术可以帮助您轻松完成此任务。一旦理解它们，就可以准确估算项目成本。
这project cost includes the resources and应急储备。To calculate resource/project costs, you can use four tools:
- 类似的估计
- Parametric Estimating
- Three-Points Estimating
- Bottom-up Estimating
在所有选项中，analogous estimationis the least accurate, and bottom-up estimating is the most precise.
这re is a difference between this process and the估计活动持续时间process; however, both use the same tools for estimation. One applies to cost and the other to duration.
类似的估计
Project managers use this estimation technique when limited project information is available. This estimation tool does not provide a reliable estimation; however, it does provide two benefits: quick results and less effort.
使用类似工具，您可以通过将其与过去的任何类似项目进行比较来估计项目的成本。您将首先调查组织的历史记录，然后使用您的专业知识并明智的判断来查找项目的成本估算。
如果您的组织完成了许多类似的项目，您将选择最类似于您当前项目的项目。在这项研究中，您将在当前项目和过去的项目之间平行地进行平行，并相应地调整项目成本。
如果相似性很高，并且估计量是主题专家，则估计值可以准确。
Analogous estimating is also known as top-down estimating.
关键点：
- This is the fastest but least accurate technique.
- 当您的详细信息较少和有限的时间时，此技术很有用。
Parametric Estimating
Like analogous estimating,parametric estimationuses historical data to calculate cost; however, it relies on statistical data, taking variables from similar projects and applying them to the current one.
例如，您将从过去的项目中收取每立方米混凝土的成本，找到当前项目的混凝土数量，然后将它们倍增。这将为您的项目提供混凝土的总成本。
Similarly, you can calculate the cost of other parameters: human resources, materials, equipment, etc.
Because it relies on statistical data, parametric estimation is more accurate than analogous estimation.
Key Points:
- 这使用历史数据和变量之间的统计关系。
- This technique is more accurate than analogous estimation.
Three-Points Estimating
三点估计技术有助于减少偏见和不确定性，同时估算潜在成本。在这里，您确定三个估计值，而不是一个估计，然后以平均值来减少不确定性，风险和偏见。
两个常用的三点估计值是β和三角形。
PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique)基于Beta分布。
这PERT estimate formula is:
CE =（CO + 4cm + CP） / 6
Where Ce = Expected Cost
Cm is the Most Likely Cost. It considers a typical project where everything goes as planned. Cp is the Pessimistic Cost, where almost everything goes wrong. Co is the Optimistic Cost, where everything goes better than presumed.
这triangular estimate formula is:
CE =（CO + CM + CP） / 3
This estimation technique minimizes a biased interpretation of the data.
Key Points:
- 该技术从估计中降低了偏见，风险和不确定性。
- 它比类似和参数估计技术更准确。
Bottom-up Estimating
这bottom-up estimating technique也称为“确定技术”。这是最准确的成本估算工具，但它会消耗时间和资源。新万博登录手机版在这里，您将计算每项活动的成本，并以最高的细节级别汇总以计算总项目成本。此技术提供准确性从-5％到10％。
Simply put, you will break the project work into its smallest work components. Then, you will estimate the cost of each component and aggregate it to get the项目成本估算。
Key Points:
- 这是最准确的成本估计技术，并提供可靠的结果。
- You can use this cost management tool when you have all the project details.
- This technique is costly and time-consuming.
成本估算是一个迭代过程，这意味着可以在不同的stages of theproject life cycle成本管理计划中定义。此过程可帮助您确定成本基准。
You should choose a cost estimating tool that fits your project’s requirements A flawed estimation will result in costly mistakes, and you might end up having to complete the project out of pocket. This is disastrous for your project and undermines the credibility of your organization.
Summary
适当使用后，上面讨论的所有项目估计工具都会有所帮助。当您进行一次可行性研究，您可能需要一个类似的成本估算工具，但是在制定预算时，您必须使用自下而上的成本估算技术。
It is important to note that the more accurate the method, the more costly and time-consuming it becomes. You will use the estimation technique best suited to your situation. It is not always advisable to use bottom-up estimating when you are short on time or resources.
从PMP考试的角度来看，此主题很重要，因此请确保您彻底了解它。
请通过评论部分分享您在项目中使用这些成本估算工具的经验。
