Estimating - A Life and Death Issue for IT Managers

Estimating is a critical part of the planning process for any project. With the high levels of uncertainty and creativity in the IT domain, it becomes a truly “Life and Death Issue”. At the same time, estimating is a very complex and misunderstood process that is one of the least consistently applied methodologies in the world of projects.

During this presentation, Bud will provide insights into the basic concepts of estimating but more importantly provide some policies, procedures and techniques that he has found to be extremely useful during his 38 year career in the software world. With an outstanding record of accomplishing projects On-Time and On-Budget (>85% of the time), these techniques have proven their value over and over again.

Bud Cookson, PE, PMP, CSM

Bud has 38 years experience developing, leading and managing projects in the Engineering and Software domains. His experience covers a broad range of industries from beer making to accounting and cookies to controls. At the same time he has mentored, trained and led numerous teams in Project Management basics, his unique approaches to planning and executing projects and project leadership. Bud is also a serial entrepreneur, having started several successful companies and is currently building two new companies as a well as a new consultancy. He is embarking on a mission to bring his unique Project Management techniques to the rest of the world.

These techniques are based on his experience in this broad range of domains and have proven to be exceptional valuable in the execution of projects On-Time and On-Budget with Satisfied Customers. He has also used these techniques successfully while managing distributed / virtual teams around the world.