In project management (e.g., for engineering), accurate estimates are the basis of sound project planning. Many processes have been developed to aid engineers in making accurate estimates, such as

• Analogy based estimation
• Compartmentalization (i.e., breakdown of tasks)
• Cost estimate
• Delphi method
• Documenting estimation results
• Educated assumptions
• Estimating each task
• Examining historical data
• Identifying dependencies
• Parametric estimating
• Risk assessment
• Structured planning

Popular estimation processes for software projects include:

• Cocomo
• Cosysmo
• Event chain methodology
• Function points
• Planning poker
• Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
• Proxy-based estimating (PROBE) (from the Personal Software Process)
• The Planning Game (from Extreme Programming)
• Weighted Micro Function Points (WMFP)
• Wideband Delphi