Bottom-Up Estimating Glossary Definition

Term Bottom-Up Estimating
Definition

Bottom-Up Estimating builds an overall estimate by estimating smaller work components and aggregating them.

Context & Usage

It can be more accurate than broad estimating methods but requires more detail and planning effort.

Project managers, sponsors, and project-controls staff use this concept in budget reviews, performance reporting, forecasting, and variance conversations.

Related concepts include Cost Baseline, Planned Value, Earned Value, Actual Cost, Cost Variance and Schedule Variance.

Categories Technical Writing and Documentation, Knowledge Management and Content Governance