Project Success Blueprint: Scheduling and Cost Estimation
Course Overview
The late delivery of projects has become the scourge of project professionals worldwide. Many projects in both the private and public sectors significantly overrun in schedule and budget, resulting in financial losses and failure to meet strategic objectives.
The root cause is often the inability of professionals to properly apply modern tools and techniques of project planning, scheduling, control, and cost estimating. Equally critical is the development of reliable cost estimates during the conceptual and design stages, as these form the foundation of feasibility studies, cash flow forecasts, and project decision-making.
This intensive 10-day program provides participants with the necessary skills to accurately plan, schedule, and estimate project costs at both conceptual and detailed levels. Through proven methodologies, case studies, and workshops, delegates will be equipped to deliver projects on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
This Course Will Feature
* Practical techniques for project planning, scheduling, and control
* Methods to develop reliable conceptual and detailed cost estimates
* Earned value analysis for tracking project performance
* Approaches to manage project risks and sustain momentum
* Effective progress monitoring, schedule acceleration, and lean techniques
* Understanding contract types, cost arrangements, and risk allocation
* Application of quality planning and cost-of-quality principles
* Hands-on workshops to apply tools and techniques in real scenarios
Objectives
By the end of this programme, participants will be able to:
* Gain knowledge of techniques used in resource planning and control
* Understand time-cost trade-offs in project delivery
* Identify risk sources, minimize their impact, and sustain project momentum
* Administer project documentation and reporting effectively
* Develop performance monitoring and control systems
* Apply estimating techniques from conceptual to detailed levels
* Recognize and apply different types of cost estimates and contracts
* Use incentive arrangements to maximize results from contracts
* Apply earned value management for project performance control
Course Content
Day One – Project Scope Planning and Definitions (Fundamentals)
* Introduction to Project Management
* Scope Planning
* Work Packages
* Scope Execution Plan
* Triple Constraints – Time, Cost, Scope
* Project Delivery Systems
Day Two – Project Schedule Planning
* Economic Evaluation and Impact of Interest Rates
* Work Breakdown Structures (WBS)
* Project Estimating
* Gantt Chart – Schedule Baseline
* Precedence Network Diagramming
* Building Schedule Logic
* Understanding Float
Day Three – Critical Path and Network Scheduling
* Activity Development
* Network Calculations
* Forward and Backward Pass
* Lead and Lag Scheduling
* Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
* Time-Cost-Scope Trade-off
Day Four – Advanced Planning Methods and Project Control
* Preparing a Line of Balance Schedule (LSM)
* Project Control Systems
* Earned Value Analysis
* Earned Value Reporting
* Resource Allocation Algorithms for Resource Prioritization
* Time and Cost Trade-off
Day Five – Progress Reporting and Schedule Acceleration
* Progress Tracking and Monitoring
* Options for Accelerating the Schedule
* Crashing the Schedule—How?
* Lean Approaches
Day Six – Cost Estimating Basics
* Basic Project Management Definitions
* Cost Selection Methods
* Typical Project Terminology & Setting up for Success
* Project Cost Management
* Cost Estimation
* Cost Budgeting
* Cost Control
* Triple Constraints – Time, Cost, Scope
* Project Management Inputs to Cost Estimation
* Resource and Cost Allocation
* **Workshop**
Day Seven – Developing the Project Budget & Cost Control
* Project Management Inputs to Cost Budgeting
* Resource Requirements
* Direct & Indirect Project Costs
* PERT, Probability, and Standard Deviation Formulae
* Calculating the Standard Deviation
* Earned Value Control Process
* Schedule Variances
* Earned Value Analysis
* Earned Value Reporting
* Project Variance Analysis and Quantification
* Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
* Cost Performance Index (CPI)
* Estimate at Completion (EAC)
* Estimate to Complete (ETC)
Day Eight – Managing Cost Risk
* Risk Analysis & Management
* Risk Identification
* Qualitative Risk Analysis
* Quantitative Risk Analysis
* Risk & Probability Matrix
* Risk Response Strategy
* Contingency Reserve
* Watch List
* Acceptance Strategy
* The S-Curve for Risk & Cost
* **Workshop**
Day Nine – Contract Types & Compensation Arrangements
* Procurement Management
* Make-or-Buy Analysis
* Procurement Documents
* Contract Types
* Risk Distribution in Contracting
* Project Risk Profiles
* Contract Types According to Risk Distribution
* Fixed Price Contracts
* Firm Fixed Price
* Fixed Price with Economic Adjustment
* Incentive Contracts
* Fixed Price Incentive
* Cost Plus Incentive
* Cost-Plus Contracts
* Cost Reimbursement
* Cost Plus Award Fee
* Cost Plus Fixed Fee
* Time-and-Materials
* **Workshop**
Day Ten – Cost of Quality
* Quality Planning & Assurance
* Quality Control
* Benchmarking
* Pareto Analysis
* Cause & Effect – Fishbone
* Control Chart
* Quality & Grade
* **Workshop**
Training Methodology
This program combines **expert-led lectures, interactive group discussions, case studies, and hands-on workshops**. Practical exercises in scheduling, cost estimating, earned value analysis, and risk management will reinforce learning. Participants will leave with a **personal action plan** to apply directly in their workplace.
Who Should Attend?
This course is designed for:
* Project Managers and Team Leaders
* Planning & Scheduling Professionals
* Cost Estimators and Cost Engineers
* Project Control Officers
* Contract & Procurement Professionals involved in project costing
* Engineers and Technical Staff managing projects
* Any professional seeking to enhance their project planning, scheduling, and estimating skills
Enquiries and Registration
Enquiry at : admin@keleaders.com
Whatsapp: 0044 790 125 9494
For more details visit our website : www.keleaders.com
