Which method is NOT recommended for estimating effort on an ERP configuration task?

• A. Break work into tasks, review past projects, and use function points.
• B. Guess based on gut feeling.
• C. Consider risk and client readiness.
• D. Use function points or size estimates.

Answer: (B)

Estimating effort for an ERP configuration task should be grounded in structured methods that use real data and project factors, not intuition. Guessing based on gut feeling is unreliable because ERP work involves many variables—customizations, data migration, integrations, user training, and client readiness—that can vary widely and are hard to forecast consistently. A solid approach breaks the work into definable tasks, looks at what similar projects required, and uses quantitative sizing like function points or other size estimates to derive effort. Incorporating risk and client readiness ensures we adjust for potential blockers, learning curves, and stakeholder preparedness. This combination provides a traceable, repeatable estimate, whereas gut-feel guesses lack the structure and data to justify the numbers.