February 23, 2009 - "PRIDE"-PM PROJECT ESTIMATING

"PRIDE"-PM - PROJECT ESTIMATING (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXX in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe Project Estimating as defined by "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

The full text for this section can be obtained by clicking: HERE.

NEXT UP: "PRIDE"-PM - Project Scheduling.

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith!

OUR BRYCE'S LAW OF THE WEEK therefore is...

"Most estimating errors are errors of omission, not commission. It's what we forget to estimate that gets us in trouble."

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While there, look for our MS PowerPoint presentation describing both the book and the training program.

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "SURCHARGES"

Last year when we were paying about $4.50 for a gallon of gasoline, you may remember companies started to add a surcharge to their bills. I saw it in our bills for garbage collection, pest control, irrigation maintenance, pool service, delivery men, etc. They did this to say they haven't raised the price of their service, which I can't believe anyone is stupid enough to believe, but you never know. I even saw a taxi with lettering on their doors stating they had the lowest fare rates in the town, but right below it they listed the surcharge to be added to the bill.

Airlines have also gotten into the act and now have surcharges for checked baggage to offset fuel costs. This "a la carte" mentality is becoming more pervasive in business and instead of paying one simple fee you are now presented with a lengthy bill representing a hefty price tag. The telephone companies are good at this as well, as anyone who has had to read their voluminous bills can tell you.

I really don't understand the psychology of surcharges. Proponents argue that consumers like to believe they are paying low prices and that a surcharge is not a permanent part of the bill, that it's only temporary and will be eliminated sometime in the near future. Right; and pigs will fly too. Now that fuel charges have radically declined, I don't see too many companies eliminating the surcharges. In fact, the price of fuel has reduced so much you would think we would be entitled to a rebate of some kind. Fat chance for that. The only time you see a surcharge removed is when a company finally announces a price increase.

Something I learned a long time ago was that prices only go up; and rarely, if ever do they go down. Probably the best way to think of a surcharge is as a price increase in sheep's clothing. But for those companies who think they are being clever in trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the public by using surcharges, please, don't insult our intelligence; an increase is an increase, I don't care what you call it.

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

"BRYCE'S PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK"

Folks, a couple of years ago I started to include my "Pet Peeve of the Week" in these "Management Visions" podcasts. They have become so popular that I now syndicate them through the Internet and they are available for republication in other media. To this end, I have created a separate web page for my writings which you can find at phmainstreet.com Look for the section, "The Bryce is Right!" Hope you enjoy them.

Also, if you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, be sure to stop by and check out our new Palm Harbor Business OASIS, a new business venue offering local business people a place to meet, work, network, and relax. Why pay a lot for leasing office space when you can become a member of the OASIS for as little as $100/month? For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.phboasis.com/

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Home":

An S.S. in Turkey wrote...

"Thanks to your effective writing you managed to bring a tear to my eye and a homesick, nostalgic twinge to my heart."

An L.T. of Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"Maybe because I have created a home for all my children I no longer feel that my parents house is home. Home is a place filled with family and love."

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Consumer Confidence":

An M.S. of Royal Oak, Michigan wrote...

"This is a very thoughtful well-written article, but I don't understand why some people still think tax credits are the answer. If people are not making any money, they aren't paying taxes. The stimulus package is needed."

An R.W. of Lexington, North Carolina wrote...

"Just a foot note. The biggest area of consumer confidence is if they will have a job in 1, 2, or 6 months. The people have money but worried about their jobs and saving their money in case they need it to pay the electric bill. The problem is the more they hold onto the cash, the worse it gets that they might lose their job. All we've got to do is have the talking heads say the recessions over, give some tax incentives or cash for buying houses, cars, misc., and things will get back on track. Unfortunately, when our president is telling us doom and gloom, it doesn't help."

Again, thanks for your comments. For these and other comments, please visit my "Bryce is Right!" web site.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

MBA is an international management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management. We offer training, consulting, and writing services in the areas of Enterprise Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Base Engineering, Project Management, Methodologies and Repositories. For information, call us at 727/786-4567.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

Management Visions is a presentation of M. Bryce & Associates, a division of M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. The program is produced on a weekly basis and updated on Sundays. It is available in versions for RealPlayer, Microsoft Media Player, and MP3 suitable for Podcasting. See our web site for details. You'll find our broadcast listed in several Podcast and Internet Search engines, as well as Apples' iTunes.

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Copyright © 2009 by M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. All rights reserved. "PRIDE" is the registered trademark of M&JB Investment Company.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

Since 1971: "Software for the finest computer - the Mind."

END