Labour Estimating & Performance Review

An examination of labour estimating discrepancies, crew-level differences, and operational conditions across patio installations.

Background

An established Ontario landscaping contractor has noticed recurring labour overruns on patio installations. Management knows that projects often require more active crew hours than originally estimated, but cannot readily determine whether the discrepancies are widespread, concentrated among particular crews, or associated with specific site conditions.

Using simulated project records for 300 patio installations across four crews in 2024–2025, supplemented with historical Ottawa weather data, this case study investigates those questions and identifies projects that warrant closer management review.

Analytical Approach

The analysis combines exploratory data analysis, multiple linear regression, regression diagnostics, and sensitivity analysis. The objective is to explain observed labour estimating discrepancies and support management decisions—not to predict the labour hours of individual future projects.

Reports

Management Decision Brief — Business findings and recommendations.

Statistical Methodology — Data generation, regression specifications, diagnostics, and sensitivity analysis.