steve kwan user experience designer

A lesson in project management

(November 2nd, 2005 - 11:09PM)

The following is kind of a true story. The events may have been modified to make me look better and more intelligent than I otherwise might.

Project Manager (PM): "Steve, here is data from a new prospect. Please estimate how long it would take to convert it into our new system."

The next day...

Steve: "It will take about 110 hours."

PM: "What! That's way more than I expected. Why do you think it will take so long?"

Steve: "Here is a two page Excel spreadsheet explaining my rationale."

PM: "This doesn't look right. The project shouldn't take more than 35 hours. We've done projects like this in the past and they took 35 hours."

Steve: "Well, I did a full estimate and I think it will take 110 hours."

PM: "I'll talk to the client and see if I can get to the bottom of this."

A conference call follows...

PM: "Well, it sounds like this project will only take 35 hours! I think we can do it."

Current project running time: 120 hours, give or take.