I'm running 1000 simulations for project in my project schedule

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CeRIM
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed May 28, 2008 4:05 am

I'm running 1000 simulations for project in my project schedule

Post by CeRIM »

I'm running 1000 simulations for project in my project schedule. It is enough?
Intaver Support
Posts: 1008
Joined: Wed Nov 09, 2005 9:55 am

Re: I'm running 1000 simulations for project in my project schedule

Post by Intaver Support »

It depends on schedule. In most real life projects 600 - 800 iterations will give very accurate results. Remember that accuracy of analysis should correspond with accuracy of input data. Input probability and outcome of risks as well as uncertainties, defined by statistical distribution of task duration and cost are not fully accurate and reliable. It is still our assessment. Sometimes this assessment relies on historical data, sometimes it is based on expert option. However after approximately 600 - 800 iterations results of analysis (e.g. mean and statistical deviation of project duration and cost) start to converge. In other words difference in mean and statistical deviation of project duration and cost on current and previous iterations will be only few percent. It means that additional iterations will not increase accuracy of analysis. However there are few exceptions. One of them is rare events with probability less then 1%. In schedules with such rare events you would need number of iterations because otherwise such event will never occur during a course of simulations.
Intaver Support Team
Intaver Institute Inc.
Home of Project Risk Management and Project Risk Analysis software RiskyProject
www.intaver.com
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