Effort is the number of labor units required to complete a schedule activity or work breakdown structure (WBS) component, typically measured in hours, days, or weeks. It differs from duration, which refers to the total elapsed time for task completion.
Key Aspects of Effort
- Measures Workload – Represents actual labor required for a task.
- Differs from Duration – Effort tracks labor units, while duration measures total time.
- Affects Resource Allocation – Helps in planning and workload distribution.
- Essential for Cost Estimation – Used to determine labor costs in budgeting.
Effort vs. Duration
| Concept | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Effort | Total labor hours required to complete a task. | A report requires 40 work hours to complete. |
| Duration | Total elapsed time for task completion. | The same report takes 5 days to finish, assuming 8-hour workdays. |
Example Scenarios
Software Development
A developer spends 80 hours coding a feature over a duration of 10 working days.
Construction Project
A team of 4 workers requires 160 total labor hours to lay the foundation, but the duration is only 5 days due to multiple workers.
Marketing Campaign
A designer and copywriter work together for 20 hours to create a new ad campaign, even though the task duration is only 2 days.
Why Effort Matters
- Helps in Resource Planning – Ensures workload is evenly distributed.
- Improves Budget Accuracy – Determines labor costs effectively.
- Enables Realistic Scheduling – Prevents overloading team members.
- Supports Project Forecasting – Ensures alignment between available resources and task requirements.
See also: Duration, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Resource Allocation, Project Scheduling.