In preparing an estimate, the relationship between duration and effort is:

In preparing an estimate, the relationship between duration and effort is:

• A. The duration is the total number of work periods required to complete an activity, while the number of labor units is the effort.
• B. Effort is the total number of work periods required to complete an activity, while the duration is the number of labor units required to complete an activity.
• C. The duration is the actual number of work periods required to complete an activity, while effort is the planned or estimated number of work periods required to complete an activity.
• D. The duration is the total number of work periods required to complete an activity, while effort is the number of labor units required to complete an activity

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that duration is the calendar time needed to finish an activity, while effort is the total amount of labor required to complete it. If an activity needs 8 labor hours, one person would take 8 time units, but with two people working in parallel, the duration could be reduced to 4 time units while the total effort remains 8 labor hours. That’s why duration is described as the total number of work periods to complete the activity, and effort is the number of labor units required. Other options mix up time and labor or confuse planned versus actual timing, which isn’t how these concepts are defined.

The main idea is that duration is the calendar time needed to finish an activity, while effort is the total amount of labor required to complete it. If an activity needs 8 labor hours, one person would take 8 time units, but with two people working in parallel, the duration could be reduced to 4 time units while the total effort remains 8 labor hours. That’s why duration is described as the total number of work periods to complete the activity, and effort is the number of labor units required. Other options mix up time and labor or confuse planned versus actual timing, which isn’t how these concepts are defined.