Which practice area has a close relationship with the Estimating (EST) practice area?

The Estimating (EST) practice area is closely related to the Planning practice area because estimation is a foundational component of effective project planning. In the context of CMMI, accurate estimation allows teams to understand the resources and time required for tasks, which is essential for creating realistic and achievable project plans.

When organizations create plans, they rely heavily on estimates to allocate resources, set timelines, and establish budgets. Good estimation directly influences the quality of the planning process, leading to more predictable outcomes and efficient project execution. In addition, effective planning includes ongoing review and adjustment of estimates as the project progresses, further solidifying the connection between these two practice areas.

While the Performance Management, Quality Assurance, and Supplier Management practices may touch on aspects of estimating in their processes, they do not share the same direct link with the EST practice area as Planning does. Performance Management focuses more on evaluating and measuring project performance, Quality Assurance centers on ensuring the processes and products meet certain standards, and Supplier Management deals with overseeing supplier relationships and contracts. These areas, while important, do not rely as fundamentally on estimation techniques as Planning does.