1. Choosing the right method

There are many different methods for estimating deadlines. However, one thing is certain: any method introduces uncertainties into the estimates made, while one of the aims of the project remains the respect of the project completion date vis-à-vis the customer.

The sum of the uncertainties involved in estimating the completion times of the tasks located on the critical path(s) of the PERT (Project Evaluation and Review Technique) network has a direct influence on the project completion date. We take into account the float (the acceptable margin of error), which correlates with the level of decomposition of the project (work breakdown structure [WBS]), i.e. the fineness of the "mesh".

Depending on the phase of the project, from the time of the bid, or during its execution after the contract has been awarded, the finesse of the estimate will...