Day 16 – Evening Session: Project Estimation & Planning – ECET 2026 CSE (Software Engineering)

In ECET 2026, the Software Engineering section covers many project management concepts. One of the most important yet often overlooked topics is Project Estimation & Planning. This concept is not just for exam marks—it is a real-world skill that every software engineer needs. ECET papers regularly feature direct theory and MCQ questions from this topic, making it a high-scoring area for CSE diploma students.

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📘 Concept Notes – Project Estimation & Planning

📍 What is Project Estimation?

Project estimation is the process of predicting the effort, time, cost, and resources required to complete a software project. It helps teams plan realistically and deliver on schedule.

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🔢 Types of Estimation Techniques:

1. Expert Judgment – Based on experience from similar past projects.
2. Delphi Technique – Multiple experts give estimates anonymously, then results are averaged.
3. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) – Breaking the project into smaller tasks and estimating each.
4. Function Point Analysis (FPA) – Estimates size based on the number of functionalities.
5. COCOMO Model (Constructive Cost Model) – Uses mathematical formulas to estimate effort.

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📅 What is Project Planning?

Project planning is the process of defining the scope, schedule, resources, and milestones of the project. It ensures everyone knows what needs to be done, when, and by whom.

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🛠 Key Elements of Project Planning:

• Scope Definition – What the project will (and won’t) include.
• Resource Planning – Assigning human, hardware, and software resources.
• Scheduling – Using tools like Gantt charts or PERT charts.
• Risk Management – Identifying possible risks and solutions.
• Budgeting – Estimating costs and allocating funds.
• Milestones – Setting key completion targets.

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🧠 Importance in Software Engineering:

• Prevents budget overruns.
• Avoids missed deadlines.
• Improves team coordination.
• Helps in client communication.

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🔟 10 Most Expected MCQs – ECET 2026 [Project Estimation & Planning]

Q1. Which of the following is a project estimation technique?
A) Gantt Chart
B) Delphi Technique
C) Risk Analysis
D) Debugging

Q2. In the COCOMO model, estimation is based on:
A) Number of lines of code
B) Number of test cases
C) Number of users
D) Number of developers

Q3. Which document defines the scope of a project?
A) SRS
B) Test Report
C) Maintenance Log
D) Error Log

Q4. Breaking down a project into smaller tasks is called:
A) Risk Analysis
B) WBS
C) Function Point Analysis
D) Milestone Scheduling

Q5. Which of the following is a project scheduling tool?
A) PERT Chart
B) Delphi Method
C) Function Point Analysis
D) Expert Judgment

Q6. The main purpose of project estimation is to:
A) Reduce software bugs
B) Predict resources, time, and cost
C) Write better code
D) Create Gantt charts

Q7. Which estimation method uses historical project data?
A) COCOMO
B) Expert Judgment
C) Function Point Analysis
D) PERT Chart

Q8. In project planning, milestones represent:
A) Code modules
B) Testing bugs
C) Key progress points
D) Debugging stages

Q9. The scope of a project defines:
A) Cost breakdown
B) Risk mitigation plan
C) What is included and excluded
D) Team hierarchy

Q10. In Function Point Analysis, estimation is based on:
A) Lines of code
B) Functional requirements
C) Resource hours
D) Hardware availability

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✅ Answer Key Table

Q.No	Answer
Q1	B
Q2	A
Q3	A
Q4	B
Q5	A
Q6	B
Q7	B
Q8	C
Q9	C
Q10	B

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🧠 Explanations of All Answers

• Q1 → B: Delphi is a collaborative estimation method.
• Q2 → A: COCOMO uses LOC (Lines of Code) for effort estimation.
• Q3 → A: SRS (Software Requirement Specification) defines scope.
• Q4 → B: WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) splits tasks.
• Q5 → A: PERT is a popular project scheduling tool.
• Q6 → B: Estimation predicts project time, cost, and resources.
• Q7 → B: Expert Judgment relies on previous project data.
• Q8 → C: Milestones are key completion points.
• Q9 → C: Scope outlines project boundaries.
• Q10 → B: FPA counts functionality for estimation.

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🎯 Why This Practice Matters for ECET 2026

Project Estimation & Planning questions are usually direct and formula-free, making them perfect for scoring quick marks. For CSE diploma students, mastering this topic ensures a better technical section score and strengthens your real-world project management skills.

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