HKSM
Project Costs
Project costs include all spending needed to invest in and develop the project. Project reasoning is the set of drivers that justify doing the project, whether positive or negative, chosen or imposed (for example, not enough capacity to meet current and future demand, declining customer satisfaction, low profits, or legal requirements).
Key Points
- Covers capital and development expenditures: labor, materials, equipment, software, vendors, and facilities.
- Tied to project reasoning, which explains why the investment is necessary and urgent.
- Estimated and budgeted into a cost baseline; variances are managed through change control.
- Tracked across the life cycle as direct vs. indirect and one-time vs. recurring costs.
Example
A company funds an agile project to rebuild its e-commerce site. Project costs include team salaries per sprint, cloud hosting, test environments, UX design tools, and vendor integrations. The reasoning includes falling customer satisfaction scores and new accessibility compliance requirements.
PMP Example Question
Which statement best describes project costs in a business case?
- Ongoing operational salaries after the project is closed
- Capital and development expenditures required to deliver the project
- Projected revenue benefits over the next three years
- High-level strategic goals that inspire the project
Correct Answer: B — Project costs = capital and development expenditures required to deliver the project
Explanation: Project costs capture the money needed to invest in and develop the solution. Benefits (C) and strategy (D) are part of the reasoning; ongoing operations (A) are not typically counted as project costs.
