This is the third part of a group of 6 POSTs that I would like to edit about sports preparation for ultramarathons which are very important to me and that I really enjoy participating in these tests, there will be 6 parts, let's continue with the third.
Third part:
"If you are not an expert in being able to make a good WBS with its expected costs, you will surely not be able to obtain the expected benefit from the project"
"The costs of a project are directly proportional to the amount of WBS work to be executed, the needs, amounts of resources, and the level of quality and specifications required in the project deliverables"
Let's talk about these elements of the PMBok methodology
5. Determination of project costs
It is essential for project coordinators and their team to be able to accurately determine the costs of the tasks and effort of the projects.
We talk about the WBS, as well as the purchases that must be made for the projects.
In this case, expert ROLES are required to assess and find the resources and materials for the projects. We are talking about purchasing and sourcing experts and project engineers who design the required plans or draw up the quality specifications for project deliverables.
In this section, in our case of seeing the ultramarathon as a project, it should be possible to have a very realistic approximation of the costs of participating in two ultramarathons and the costs associated with the purchases and services that we have planned. How much is this adventure going to cost us for each team member?
Example of cost estimation for the ultramarathon per athlete:
Concepto | Cantidad | Número meses | Total |
Physical Training | 40,00 € | 6 | 240,00 € |
Nutrition | 40,00 € | 6 | 240,00 € |
Bikes maintenance | 60,00 € | 6 | 360,00 € |
Gigante Rueda registration | 71,00 € | - | 71,00 € |
Gigante de Piedra registration | 100,00 € | - | 100,00 € |
Supplementation | 42,98 € | 6 | 257,88 € |
Ruidera Accommodation | 178,20 € | - | 178,20 € |
Gas for the trip and race tracking | 120,00 € | 120,00 € | |
Bike fit | 100,00 € | 100,00 € | |
Sun block | 25,00 € | 25,00 € | |
Total | 1.692,08 € |
Figura 3: Table direct costs of participation in the two ultras
Normally companies do not consider other indirect costs that the projects consume and therefore the profit margin is not reached. It is normal not to make a good estimate of costs in projects and therefore we must be very demanding when reviewing project cost estimates.
Normally companies do not consider other indirect costs that the projects consume and therefore the profit margin is not reached. It is normal not to make a good estimate of costs in projects and therefore we must be very demanding when reviewing project cost estimates.
6. Determination of project quality and specifications
How well do we want to perform the tests? Do we only want to participate or, on the contrary, do we want to give our best, depending on which the quality demands increase.
In real life, companies must stop to specify very well the quality of milestones and jobs, and have experts guarantee these specifications. We are talking about quality control experts who must finalize project deliverables in companies.
7. Project resource management
What resources will we need to participate in these two ultramarathons?
Mountain bike
Road bike, we are going to train with this almost 70%
Helmet
Protective glasses
Culotte
Jersey
Road shoes
Mountain shoes
Gloves
GPS computer cycle, Gigante de Ruidera is a test with navigation, the route is not mark, you have to navigate following the track
All these resources must be available for daily training in perfect conditions and quality to carry out the tests
8. Project communications management
In this section we will discuss how we are going to communicate with the different stakeholders in the project?
In this example of a project it is very simple, but we have to think that in a project in which one hundred people work, if an official channel of communication and storage of documents is not established, it would be chaos and impossible to carry out.
In our case:
Communications with the physical trainer
WhatsApp and Training Peaks
Figure 4: Example of how the feelings that have been had in training and additional comments are transmitted to the coach
Communications with the rest of the interested parties, via WhatsApp and telephone.
The control of tasks of 100% of the interested parties with the application of ERP Odoo projects for the monitoring of responsibilities and events. This is very important to keep our family and friends integrated into the project and the Keeltek company that represents us in the tests.