Optimistic Start (task field)

Data Type     Date

Entry Type     Calculated or entered

Description     The Optimistic Start field contains the date that represents the best-case possibility for when a task could start. You can enter this date as part of a PERT analysis calculation, which takes a weighted average of expected, pessimistic, and optimistic dates and durations. This field is available only in the PA_Optimistic Case table or the PA_Optimistic Gantt view.

How Calculated     When you first create a task, the Optimistic Start date field contains "NA." When you enter an optimistic duration and optimistic finish date, and then click Calculate PERT  on the PERT Analysis toolbar, an optimistic start date for the selected task is calculated and placed in the Optimistic Start field.

Best Uses     Use the Optimistic Start field in the PA_Optimistic Case table or the PA_Optimistic Gantt view to estimate the probabilities of task dates. By default, the PERT analysis calculation gives heaviest weight (4) to the expected information, and the lightest weight (1 each) to the pessimistic and optimistic information.

Example     You have several critical tasks for which you want to see the best-case, worst-case, and expected start dates. You enter the expected finish dates and durations for these tasks, as well as their optimistic and pessimistic finish dates and durations, and then run the PERT analysis calculation.

Remarks     By changing the weight that Microsoft Office Project attributes to each of the three estimated durations, you can tailor the probable estimate to be more accurate. To change the weight, click PERT Weights   on the PERT Analysis toolbar, and then alter the default settings.

The Optimistic Start field uses the Start1 custom start date field.