Understanding Difference Between ROM Estimate Vs Definitive Estimate

What is a Rough Order of Magnitude (Rom) Estimate?

Rough order of magnitude estimates, also known as ROMs, are estimates of the effort and cost involved in completing a project. The ROM estimation process occurs early in the project life cycle and serves as a guide in the selection of strategies and planning options.

Rough order of magnitude estimations is general estimates of the effort and cost associated with a project. The method is typically used for estimating project budgets without much detail. Usually, this step is carried out when selecting and approving a project.

A Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate is generally completed in one of the first phases of a project. In general, when a company or business wants a ROM cost completed, they are looking for a ballpark number instead of an exact figure.

The variation between estimated and actual costs with a Rough Order of Magnitude estimate can easily be plus or minus fifty percent. Anyone preparing a Rough Order of Magnitude estimate should be sure to indicate that the accuracy of the estimate can vary greatly, especially if it is in the early stages of a project.

How Do I Prepare a ROM Estimate?

Although there is a more accepted variation with a Rough Order of Magnitude estimate, it is still vital that a project management professional complete the work to make the estimate as accurate as possible. There are limits to what is acceptable in regard to the price variation.

Often, projects are completed over a period of several years. It can difficult to forecast and plot the cost of raw materials or labor over a multi-year time frame. However, there are known inputs that the project manager is sure to get correct. As a general rule, the longer the time horizon for the project, the more the possible variation in the final price.

For example, if someone estimated the construction of a new house to be $200,000 and the final cost was $1,000,000, the level of variation would not be acceptable. When preparing cost estimates using this method, the most important aspect is to get the known factors right.

Tools for Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Estimates

There are several handy tools on the market to help project managers provide likely Rough Order of Magnitude estimates. SEER is an interoperable suite of products that can help project managers with many steps along the way, including software solutions that help with both ROM and Definitive Estimates. 

There are also ROM templates like this one from Doctonic that will help map out all variables to take into account.

What is a Definitive Estimate?

A definitive estimate is very different from a ROM estimate. First, the accepted level of variation between projected cost and the final cost is usually -10% to +10%. A company or client that requests a definitive estimate usually has much less room for error than one that will accept Rough Order of Magnitude pricing. 

Anyone that has worked in the field of project management long enough knows how difficult preparing a definitive estimate can be on a long or complex project. This means that the person preparing the cost estimates for a project using a definitive estimate must perform a considerable amount of research in order to get the variation this low.

A definitive estimate may also turn out to be incorrect, since it is likely based on quite a few assumptions, including factors beyond anyone’s control. Estimates changing is an accepted fact of life, and the only way to counter uncertainty in estimates is to update them regularly - the more uncertainty, the more frequently they need to be revisited. This is the only way to mitigate the risks. The PMBOK terms this “rolling wave planning.”

How Do I Prepare a Definitive Estimate?

The method of preparing a definitive estimate must be more detailed than a ROM estimate. In addition, there must be more solid data when preparing a definitive estimate. A company or business cannot expect an accurate definitive estimate to be prepared if the proper data points are not provided. In general, there are contract documents and a scope of work that is provided in order to back up the estimate claims. A definitive estimate should be prepared from fully designed plans with different scenarios that can be projected out.

Any direct costs associated with the project, such as building materials and labor for a home, should be itemized. A contingency should also be incorporated into a definitive estimate which can cover a project manager in the event that the market conditions change. To use the home building example, if the price of bricks suddenly goes up by fifty percent it would not be reasonable that the estimated cost of bricks in the home will be the same as the final cost. To help reduce the impact of this situation, indirect costs should also be budgeted into a project.

Tools for Definitive Estimates

Many companies offer templates and calculators to assist with definitive estimates. Smartsheet offers a template in addition to a helpful guide on project cost estimation. 

As a general rule, it is important to understand that an estimate is only as good as the inputs that are put in. Any wild variations in market costs or deviations from the plan can and will result in estimates being less accurate.

How Do I Calculate Variation for These Estimates?

As a project manager, it is important to be able to accurately account for variation. If the estimated cost of a project is $200,000 and the actual cost of the project ends up being $250,000, the dollar variation is $50,000. However, what really matters is the percent variation. In this case, we would take the difference of $50,000 and divide that by the estimated cost of the project at $200,000. In this simple example, the cost variation would be 25%. This would be acceptable for a ROM estimate—but not for a definitive estimate.

As a general rule, it is important to understand that an estimate is only as good as the inputs that are put in. Any wild variations in market costs or deviations from the plan can and will result in estimates being less accurate.

Conclusion

A ROM estimate and definitive estimate function differently in terms of both scope and detail. A client or business that is asking for a ROM estimate is going to have a completely different set of expectations than one asking for a definitive estimate. Your understanding of the differences between ROM costs, ROM pricing, ROM estimate, and Definitive estimate are a crucial first step when developing a project’s scope. 

Any definitive estimate should have a scope of work and an itemized list of costs that went into the project. Unlike a ROM estimate, a business is not likely to tolerate or accept large variations from the estimated and final costs. Finally, as a project manager, it is important to lay out the expectations of the accuracy of the different estimation methods. A business should understand that a ROM estimate is not going to be nearly as accurate as a definitive one.

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FAQs

1. How do you calculate ROM estimate?

To calculate ROM estimate, compile a list of tasks that are to be completed. Identify the resources you will need to complete the objective. Estimate tasks and timelines for them. Calculate the cost of the project based on all these things. 

2. What is ROM in estimating?

Rough order of magnitude estimate is the cost of the project. This is calculated in the first phase of the project. 

3. What Is the Difference between Definitive Estimate and Rough Order of Magnitude?

ROM estimate is used at an early stage of the project when there is no solid information on the cost. Definitive estimate is used when there are accurate estimates at activity level. 

4. What’s the purpose of a ROM estimate in project management?

ROM estimate gives a starting point for moving forward with the project. It is used as the base of for the budget.

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