Here's how you can enhance your time estimation skills in R&D.

Before starting any R&D project the entire team needs to understand the purpose of the project without that team can't complete the project in deadline Based on the resources and Technology available the deadline should be decided ( Don't consider ambitious deadlines) Select the team in such a way that each member should know their role and they know how to complete task Based on the work break the project into part and review the progress If any of the short goal is stuck in between Focus to solve issues as early as possible Keep an eye on resources and cross functional communications Most of the project not complete within timeline is because of lack of communication internally and cross function teams

Setting the boundaries upfront is important - what to do, and by when - what to exclude - setting precise dates with goals.. - ongoing monitoring is key..

Um ponto que considero importante é o uso de dados históricos como fonte de informa??o para modelagem estatística. O uso de modelos que permitam fazer inferências podem poupar tempo de P&D e aumentar a assertividade das decis?es a serem tomadas. Adicionalmente, concordo com o fato de que os dados históricos permitem olhar projetos passados de modo a capturar as li??es aprendidas, sem fazer com que os dados sejam profecias futuras, mas sim como ferramentas adicionais nos desenvolvimentos presentes.

Leveraging historical data is essential for refining our time estimation skills in Research & Development. By reviewing past projects similar to our current one, we can analyze timelines, required resources, and challenges faced. This retrospective analysis gives us valuable insights into potential pitfalls and allows us to adjust our time estimates based on real-world outcomes. While past performance serves as a guide, we recognize it's not a rigid rule but rather a tool to enhance our planning and decision-making process.

And yet I would say, be prepared for surprises, both in timelines and money lines. References are good, however when we say research we may tweak parameters and a single parameter change can be difficult to handle sometimes.

As Steve jobs said, we can define future by connecting the dots of the past. Key aspect in estimation is look at past historical data, understand the trends and patterns before defining the future plans. Understand the challenges and risks well In advance.

La mejor manera de conocer comportamientos futuros es estudiando lo ocurrido en el pasado. Es muy necesario disponer de fuentes fiables de datos, y con una evolución suficiente, para poder extraer patrones y perfiles que permitan elaborar las próximas acciones.

La incorporación de los aportes de su equipo de investigación y desarrollo puede mejorar significativamente la precisión de la estimación del tiempo. Los miembros del equipo con experiencia en áreas específicas pueden proporcionar información sobre la duración de las tareas e identificar posibles problemas que podrían causar retrasos. Colaborar con el equipo durante el proceso de estimación para considerar todas las perspectivas, resulta a mi juicio básico. Este enfoque colectivo no solo mejora la fiabilidad de las estimaciones, sino que también fomenta un sentido de propiedad y compromiso entre los miembros del equipo, fortaleciendo la cohesión y eficacia del grupo.

Sadly, many managers underestimate the value of teammates' engagement in building products and ideas. We hire very smart people to challenge our concepts. During my 11+ years of experience, my team has always been my superpower in finding the best, quickest, and most intelligent solution to the market and customers' demands. My approaches, based on Agile methodologies and ceremonies, provide an environment of trust, listening, and engagement with the vision and current state. In my pivots of B2B SaaS Conversational AI solution, a self-efficient team brought many improvements and ideas that made x3 revenue growth. So, I recommend being bold and sharing the credit with your team. It is the true potential of your leadership for the business.

Always keep updated to the R&D colleagues on the development of the project. Try to engage the team and cross functional team in project related task. . Make sure that time line is remembered by all. Stake holders make contributions to complete the project on time. One idea can save many experiments/trials. Delegate the responsibilities among colleagues for ownership of the project. Team members do not follow the lab trials blindly.

Any inputs from junior members also should be respected and process development activities to expedite. Every person has different perspectives on used chemicals as well as critical observations during working hence inputs help to freeze fool proof process

Contar con un equipo que participe en la visualización del proyecto es muy importante, cada uno dará una perspectiva y una visión diferente de acuerdo a la experiencia. Es necesario este tipo de trabajo para poder facilitar y mejorar los tiempos y tareas.

Setting incremental goals is a strategic approach we use to effectively manage time in our Research & Development projects. By establishing short-term targets, we can closely monitor progress and make necessary adjustments along the way. These milestones not only break down the project into manageable segments but also facilitate more precise time estimations for each phase. They serve as critical checkpoints to keep the project on track, allowing us to proactively address any delays and ensure timely completion.

In R&D, incremental goals aid time estimation by breaking down complex projects into smaller, manageable tasks. This approach increases accuracy as smaller tasks have fewer variables and uncertainties, making time estimates more reliable. Incremental goals also allow for regular progress assessments and adjustments, helping to identify and address issues early. This continuous feedback loop improves overall project planning and resource allocation. Furthermore, achieving incremental goals boosts team morale and motivation, contributing to sustained productivity and better adherence to timelines. Overall, incremental goals provide a structured framework that enhances the precision and effectiveness of time estimation in R&D projects.

Split the differents tasks to do in subtasks that are precisely defined, which makes simpler to estimate how many people should be involved and the level of detail of the work to do.

El planteamiento de los tiempos , el perseguir la meta en tiempo y forma de acuerdo a las actividades es necesario, ayudan a tener disciplina, constancia y un buen seguimiento al planteamiento.

Establecer metas incrementales es una estrategia eficaz para administrar el tiempo en proyectos de investigación y desarrollo. Al definir objetivos a corto plazo, se puede monitorear el progreso y hacer ajustes necesarios. Estos hitos dividen el proyecto en segmentos más peque?os y manejables, facilitando estimaciones de tiempo más precisas. Además, sirven como puntos de control para garantizar que el proyecto se mantenga en marcha, permitiendo identificar y abordar retrasos tempranamente. Esta metodología mejora la gestión del tiempo y aumenta la probabilidad de éxito del proyecto.

Unfortunately, adding contingency is often mistakenly seen as pessimistic. However, embracing uncertainties and being realistic about timelines is crucial for R&D-based industries. Leaders must cultivate a culture of realism. Ignoring uncertainties and overcommitting can lead to unfavorable outcomes. Inflexibility can result in overwhelming pressure on the team and lead to non-robust product development, ultimately leading to failure during later launch stages.

Enhancing time estimation skills in steel metallurgy R&D by incorporating a flexibility factor involves accounting for variables like alloy composition, processing techniques, & desired material properties. For instance, when developing a new steel grade with specific strength & ductility requirements, unforeseen complications like alloy segregation or unexpected phase transformations may arise. So, Including a flexibility factor allows for adjustments in experimental procedures & timelines, accommodating potential setbacks in achieving target microstructures through heat treatment or mechanical processing. This proactive approach ensures more accurate project timelines, improving resource allocation & overall project management.

Contar con diferentes escenarios y diferentes planes de acuerdo al proyecto ayudarán a ser flexibles en caso de riesgos y contingencias , es muy importante tener un colchón de tiempo para cualquier eventualidad de ajuste al plan original.

In Research & Development projects, incorporating a flexibility factor into our time estimates is crucial due to the unpredictable nature of innovation. We recognize the need to allow for contingencies by adding extra time to accommodate unforeseen challenges or creative detours that may arise. This buffer helps us absorb delays without compromising the overall timeline. It's important to be realistic about the uncertainties involved and plan accordingly, striking a balance between optimism and pragmatism to ensure we can adapt to evolving project needs.

Incorporating a flexibility factor into time estimates is crucial given the unpredictable nature of innovation. Adding extra time for contingencies allows us to account for unforeseen challenges or creative detours that often emerge during a project. This buffer helps absorb the impact of delays, ensuring the overall timeline remains on track. It's vital to be realistic about the inherent uncertainties and plan accordingly, striking a balance between optimism and pragmatism. This approach not only safeguards project timelines but also fosters a resilient and adaptive research environment.

This is the hard part for an R&D team! Scientists and engineers hate spending time in frequent meetings where managers try to squeeze out of them the precise advancement they have made and the horizon line for the next steps. This is where the art of the Project Manager needs to get in and save the day!

Adding milestones at different stages of the project serves two main purposes: ensuring that progress aligns with the plan and allowing for adjustments or redesigns if things deviate from predictions. Additionally, it's crucial to gather feedback from your team. Sometimes, leaders focus solely on monitoring outcomes without listening to their teams or considering essential factors for moving forward effectively.

Continuous reviews from experts and elders helps you a lot. We R and D scientists are students that tend to learn and innovate. Always remember to be a student. Listen more and act.

In the midst of working on my thesis project, I encountered a significant challenge. I found myself unable to wrap up the various tasks and make meaningful progress. Despite being constantly engaged in the work, I was not seeing the desired advancement. It was a frustrating & stagnant period. It was at this critical juncture that my co-advisor stepped in to provide invaluable guidance & support. We sat down together and collaborated to break down the overall project into a detailed list of specific tasks, each assigned within a clear time frame. With the structure & accountability enforced by my co-advisor, I was able to regain focus & momentum in working on the project. All this would have been for nothing, if not for #Continuous_Review.

A revis?o contínua é essencial para promover melhorias do projeto de pesquisa e desenvolvimento. Neste contexto, p?de-se agregar ao projeto o ciclo PDCA com o objetivo de cria a cultura da melhoria contínua da equipe envolvida. PDCA é a sigla para as 4 palavras em inglês: Plan, Do, Check e Act, cuja tradu??o e interpreta??o é Planejar, Executar, Checar e intervir. Geralmente este último prevê a instru??o, treinamento e direcionamentos para a equipe, sempre com foco em melhorias do projeto.

Enjoy your way. Give it time and passion. Project carried out while having fun are the ones with the highest probability to deliver the best results. Still stressful at times, but enjoyable. And when everything seems to go south, nothing working and going as expected. Give up for the day. Meet friends. Stop thinking. Do whatever gives you energy and shuts your brain down thinking to the project. When back, things will be different. I promise you!

Of course, one should start with a well thought and planned stages/steps, and estimated time requirement for each stage. But, in most of the cases, one is likely to deviate from the time plan. The reasons are: one may get stuck at one or more stages because you may expect an outcome but you cannot guess its quantum, as the research study progresses one may have to change the direction or the scope of the research, other researchers may also be working on a similar project elsewhere and publication of their results may require change the objective after critically study of their results. Hard working always helps.

Always stay updated with the latest advances in your field and related areas. Achieving a goal using traditional methods can sometimes take years, but new techniques and cutting-edge technology can significantly reduce the time and cost required.

Fui estagiária num centro de pesquisa e Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de novos sistemas enzimáticos e as metas bem definidas s?o essenciais para o bom funcionamento do projeto como um todo. Além disso, a capacita??o da equipe deve ser constante para obten??o de bons resultados.

To estimate a timeline-first of all need to understand objectively the scope, boundaries of the project and its deliverables. Need to break down the tasks involved in the project and assign reasonable time estimates for each. There will be some unexpected events so better to consider some allowance for the same. If there are some references of similar projects done earlier -it would help to estimate the timelines. There would be typical phases like, Define, Design, Development, Execution and Close out in any project- time for each to be considered. Experienced staff provide extremely useful insights from past which should not be ignored. Use a MSP to setup various milestones and monitor progress periodically and recalibrate as needed.