Estimate and Schedule a 16-Week Custom CRM for an Agency Client
Overview
What this challenge is about.
Read the 22-page SOW (statement of work). Decompose into a 3-level work-breakdown structure (~80-110 leaf tasks). Estimate each leaf using 3-point (optimistic/most-likely/pessimistic) with planning poker across 3 peer engineers. Build a 16-week schedule in Linear + Google Sheets including dependencies and 20 percent contingency buffer. Author a staffing plan for 4.5 engineer-FTEs (lead, 2 mid backend, 1 frontend, 0.5 designer) with named ramp-up + handoff dates. Build a top-15 risk register with mitigation + named owner. Author a client-facing milestone calendar with 6 milestones + decision gates. Deliver all artifacts.
The Brief
What you'll do, and what you'll demonstrate.
Plan, estimate, schedule, and staff a 16-week fixed-price CRM project so the agency hits the date and the budget.
Earning criteria — what you'll demonstrate
- Decompose a SOW into a defensible work-breakdown structure
- Apply 3-point estimation calibrated with peer review
- Build a schedule with realistic buffer and dependency-aware ordering
- Author a risk register that drives action, not documentation theatre
Program Fit
Where this fits in your program.
Sharpens the same skills your degree expects you to demonstrate.
Skills
Skills you'll demonstrate.
Each one shows up on your verified credential.
Careers
Roles this prepares you for.
Real titles. Real skill bridges. Pick the one closest to your trajectory.
Product Manager
Product managers who can co-author a WBS + milestone calendar prevent the scope drift that kills fixed-price engagements.
This challenge sharpens
- work-breakdown-structure
- scheduling
- stakeholder-communication