As instructional designers, one of the critical tasks we face is estimating the effort required for a project accurately. Man-working days' effort estimation is a vital aspect of project planning, as it helps in setting realistic timelines, allocating resources effectively, and ensuring project success. In this guide, we'll deep dive into the process of calculating man-working days effort estimation for instructional design projects with an example of how you might apply the steps to estimate the man-working days' effort for an instructional design project focused on creating a 15-minute interactive microlearning module:
1. Understand the Project Scope: The project involves developing a 15-minute microlearning module on cybersecurity awareness for employees of a financial institution. The module will cover topics such as password security, phishing awareness, and data protection best practices. The target audience consists of employees with varying levels of technical proficiency.
2. Break Down the Tasks: Break down the instructional design process into tasks such as conducting a needs analysis, designing the content outline, creating interactive scenarios, developing multimedia elements, scripting narration, reviewing and revising content, and finalizing the module for delivery.
3. Estimate Time for Each Task: Based on experience and industry standards, estimate the time required for each task. For example:
Needs analysis: 1 day
Content outline design: 0.5 days
Interactive scenario creation: 2 days
Multimedia development (graphics, animations): 2 days
Scripting narration: 0.5 days
Review and revisions: 1 day
Finalization for delivery: 0.5 days
4. Consider Resource Availability: Assess the availability of resources such as instructional designers, subject matter experts, graphic designers, and developers. Determine if any tasks require external support or specialized expertise.
5. Account for Contingencies: Allocate buffer time for unforeseen issues, revisions, or client feedback. For a project of this size, adding 10-20% contingency time would be prudent. Let's allocate 1 day (20% of the estimated effort) for contingencies.
6. Aggregate and Validate Estimates: Total the estimated effort for all tasks: 1 + 0.5 + 2 + 2 + 0.5 + 1 + 0.5 = 7.5 days. Adding the contingency time of 1 day brings the total estimated effort to 8.5 days.
7. Communicate and Iterate: Communicate the estimated effort (8.5 days) and project timeline to stakeholders, ensuring transparency about assumptions and contingencies. Track progress against estimates throughout the project lifecycle, making adjustments as necessary based on emerging insights or changes in scope.
By following this process, you can effectively estimate the man-working days' effort for a 15-minute interactive microlearning project, setting realistic timelines and ensuring successful project execution.
In conclusion, mastering the art of man-working days' effort estimation is a crucial skill for instructional designers. By understanding the project scope, breaking down tasks, estimating time accurately, considering resource availability, accounting for contingencies, and validating estimates, new designers can navigate this aspect of their role with confidence and competence. Effective estimation lays the groundwork for successful project execution, client satisfaction, and professional growth in the field of instructional design.
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