Analogous Estimating / Top Down Estimating – A PMP Definition
Analogous Estimating / Top Down Estimating – A PMP Definition
By Sivaraj Dhanasekaran
Analogous Estimating, is one form of expert judgment and it also known as Top-down Estimating. This technique is used to determine the duration of the project. After finalizing the high level scope/requirement, the Project Manager will refer and compare the previously completed project’s similar activities with the current activities and determine the duration.
This estimation technique will be applied to determine the duration when the detailed information about the project is not available, usually during the early stages of the project. This technique will look the scope/requirement as a whole single unit to estimate. This estimate will give a ball-park idea about the estimation and will have bigger variance.
A real world explanation of Analogous Estimating is the following: To estimate the time required to complete the project of upgrading XYZ application’s database version to a higher version, is to compare similar past projects and estimate the duration. This is done irrespective of the complexity, size and other factors.
Dhanasekaran, Sivaraj is a certified PMP and works as a Senior Project Manager in one of the leading MNC banks in Singapore. He has over 13 years IT experience and handled banking projects as well as managed production support team for complex Treasury applications for various MNC banks.
He loves to share his experience and knowledge gained as Project Manager and also providing guidance to people who wanted to obtain PMP certification. He runs a project management forum at www.sgpm.wordpress.com.