Table W27.5. Task list

Task Description	Estimated Start	Estimated Work	Estimated Finish
Identify new potential business opportunities	05/10/2021	8 hours	05/11/2021
develop a marketing strategy for new customers	05/ 12/ 2021	10 hours	05/ 14/ 2021
analyze current financial performance	05/15/2021	12 hours	05/18/2021
develop a customer service training program	05/19/2021	6 hours
prepare a budget for next quarter	05/22/2021	4 hours	05/23/2021

After completing this list, begin tracking your time on these tasks. Copy the form shown in the table. W27.6. Transcribe the tasks from table W27.5 onto the formuse a separate form for each task. Log the number of hours spent on the task each day and estimate the remaining hours. When the task is completed, determine the actual start date, finish date, and the total work expended.

At the end of the two weeks, could you answer the following questions?

a. How accurate were your estimates?

b. If the total actual work was higher than what you estimated, what were some of the reasons for this difference?

c. If the actual start or finish dates were later than initially planned, what caused this?

d. What are your thoughts on the process for keeping track of your time?

e. Did you log your time every day? Did you miss any days and then attempt to remember how you spent your time? If you didn't keep track of your time every day, how do you think this affected the accuracy of the information?