Project Planning, Scheduling & Cost Estimating Skills

The late delivery of projects have become the scourge of project professionals worldwide. Countless numbers of projects undertaken by organizations in the private and public sectors significantly overrun the project schedule and budget, and as a consequence fail to achieve the organization's financial and strategic objectives, often with sizable increases in costs and with substantial financial losses to the organization. Why?

This is due mainly to the failure of many project professionals to successfully apply the tools and techniques of modern project planning, scheduling and control to their projects. Likewise, the development of reliable cost estimates during the design and early conceptual stages of a proposed project are of critical importance to the success of the project.

The decision to proceed with a project is often based almost exclusively on early conceptual cost estimates, and these estimates provide the basis for the cash flow projections and forecasts used during the project feasibility study. Unreliable cost estimates can result in significant cost overruns later in the project life when it is too late to contain them.

In addition to the potential financial losses suffered by the organization, many such projects subsequently fail to deliver the required quality of outcomes intended for the project as a direct consequence of poor estimating. Budgeting inaccuracies inevitably result in lower quality workmanship and materials.

The estimating techniques and processes covered in this course will provide delegates with the necessary skills to forecast accurately the anticipated costs of projects with a focus on budget estimates, estimates for pre-construction services, estimating contractor and sub-contractor work, estimating general conditions, pricing self-performed work, estimating negotiated contracts, and performing lump sum and unit-price estimates.

This brand new day  training course in London will significantly enhance the skills and knowledge of delegates and improve their ability to properly plan and schedule their projects, as well as perform estimates at both the conceptual and detailed levels, and to compare feasible alternatives quickly and efficiently.

The Structure

This comprehensive training course consists of two modules which can be booked as a 10 Day Training event, or as individual, 5 Day training courses.

Module 1 - Project Scheduling & Planning Skills

Module 2 - Project Cost Estimating Skills

What are the Goals?

The Primary Objectives of This Project Planning, Scheduling & Cost Estimating Skills training course are to help delegates to:

• Gain knowledge of techniques used in resource planning and control
• Understand the time-cost trade-offs
• Identify risk sources and minimize their impact and learn how to sustain project momentum
• Learn how to administer project documentation and reporting
• Develop effective performance monitoring and control systems
• Gain knowledge of techniques used in project estimating, from the conceptual stage to the final detailed estimate
• Understand the different types of estimates used to accurately and progressively estimate project costs
• Understand the different types of contracts based on the distribution of risk between contracting parties
• Effectively apply incentive arrangements to get the best results from the contract

Who is this Training Course for?

This Project Planning, Scheduling & Cost Estimating Skills training course is designed for project planning engineers, project cost estimators, project designers, project planners and schedulers, contracts professionals, project procurement and purchasing staff, and project control and business services professionals who have the responsibility for preparing cost estimates and project proposals in client and contracting companies.

How will this Training Course be Presented?

Delegates will develop advanced project cost estimating and cost management skills and knowledge through formal and interactive learning methods. The training course includes individual exercises, team projects, applicable case studies and group discussions.

The material has been designed to enable delegates to apply all of the material with immediate effect at the office.

Additionally, the training course does not assume prior knowledge of the topics covered in the course. New concepts and tools are introduced gradually to enable delegates to progress from the fundamental to the advanced concepts of project risk management.