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Open Standard · M3 Cost & Estimating

M3.5 Cost Forecasting & Commercial/Contract Interfaces

By the end of this section, the learner should be able to produce and challenge a credible cost forecast that explains what the project or package is now expected to cost, why that expectation differs from the authorised baseline or prior forecast, what commercial and delivery assumptions the forecast depends on, and where material uncertainty remains. They should be able to build Estimate to Complete (ETC) from the remaining scope rather than simply extrapolating spend; combine incurred cost and ETC into Estimate at Completion (EAC); reconcile commitments without double counting them; assess uncommitted work, changes, claims, remeasurement, escalation, currency, productivity and schedule effects; and translate contract information into a realistic project-cost outlook.

Knowledge

Articles and chapters

  • Project Controls Open Standard

    Collaborative work -n-progress contributed by members and experts from across the community cadre.The Project Controls Open Standard brings together practical project controls knowledge in one free,…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M6.5 — Claims & Forensic Analysis

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to preserve relevant records, define a forensic question, establish a reliable chronology, test cause and effect across schedule and cost, distinguish facts from assumptions and produce reproducible findings. They should understand how project-controls…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M6.4 — Assurance & Control Reviews

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to plan and conduct a proportionate review of project-controls data, processes and outputs; test evidence against stated criteria; identify material weaknesses; communicate their consequences; and verify corrective action. They should distinguish…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M6.2 — Change Control

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to recognise a potential change, record and define it, assess integrated consequences, identify the correct authority, support an approve/reject/defer decision and track implementation to verified closure. They should distinguish a changed requirement…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M6.1 — Project Controls Strategy & Governance

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to design and operate a proportionate project-controls strategy: define what decisions the project needs, identify the information and controls that support them, assign ownership and authority, establish an integrated operating cycle, set escalation…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M5.4 — Integrated Forecasting & Predictive Analysis

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to produce one coherent view of expected project outcomes by reconciling schedule, cost, physical accomplishment, acceptance, commercial exposure and uncertainty. They should identify inconsistent assumptions, distinguish target from forecast, build…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M5.3 — Integrated Cost & Schedule Performance

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to connect authorised scope, time-phased budget, evidence of accomplishment and incurred cost at a common cut-off. They should calculate and interpret basic Earned Value Management measures, reconcile them to source records, distinguish cost efficiency…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M5.2 — Variance & Trend Analysis

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to establish a valid comparison, calculate period and cumulative variance, analyse a time series, distinguish delivery deterioration from timing or data effects, find causes across discipline boundaries and test whether an intervention improves the…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M4.5 — Contingency & Uncertainty

    1. Practical outcomeBy the end of this section, the learner should be able to establish, explain, govern and reassess cost and schedule provision for uncertainty without hiding it inside the base plan. They should be able to distinguish base budget or duration from contingency and, where the…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M4.4 — Risk Response & Control

    1. Practical outcomeBy the end of this section, the learner should be able to turn an analysed threat or opportunity into a controlled management response that is proportionate, owned, time-bound and integrated with the way the project is actually delivered. They should be able to distinguish a…

    17 Oct 2026

Discussions

1,048 discussions

  1. 214replies
    As Built Critical Path
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Gerry McCaffrey· 21 years ago
  2. 74replies
    AACE 29R-03
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Rafael Davila· 15 years ago
  3. 68replies
    Claims?
    Forensic Claims Analysisby James Williams· 19 years ago
  4. 64replies
    Terminal Float
    Forensic Claims Analysisby David Bordoli· 19 years ago
  5. 61replies
    acceleration of the works
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Ashraf Alawady· 18 years ago
  6. 50replies
    Is this a case of Concurrency?
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Kaif Mohsin· 11 years ago
  7. 48replies
    FORCE MAJEURE..,
    Forensic Claims Analysisby X Planner· 21 years ago
  8. 47replies
    Forensics - How to determine why?
    Forensic Claims Analysisby David Andreotti· 18 years ago
  9. 45replies
    AACE RP 29-03 (2009) Delay Analysis
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Andrew Flowerdew· 17 years ago
  10. 45replies
    BUIDLING PERMIT DELAY
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Rami Al Haddad· 17 years ago

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  • PROCEDURES No 16 – Quality Standards

    Fed up with adverts from software companies and consultancies that are going to change the world of Planning and solve all your project problems? This series of occasional articles promises nothing but thought provoking questions on how well we understand the basics of our profession from the…

    PP Admin

    23 Aug 2026

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