Definition
Estimate to complete (ETC) is a project management metric that forecasts the remaining cost or effort required to finish a project or task. It is calculated by taking the actual cost incurred to date and adding the projected cost for the work yet to be done. ETC is crucial for managing project budgets and schedules, allowing teams to identify potential overruns early and take corrective action. For instance, a software development team might use ETC to predict the cost of completing remaining features after encountering unexpected technical challenges. This differs from Estimate at completion (EAC), which represents the total projected cost of the project. ETC is a key concept tested on PMP, CAPM, and PMI-ACP examinations.