1. Scope the learning
Finished duration matters, but module count and the type of work matter too. An 80-minute course is not automatically equivalent to eight 10-minute modules.
Examples: $, €, £, USD
min
Finished learning: — · Project and module setup are estimated separately.
2. Set the production profile
Choose the closest overall experience. The benchmark is a starting point; project-condition adjustments keep it from pretending that duration is the only driver.
An effort allowance does not establish WCAG conformance; testing against applicable success criteria is still required.
Benchmark and advanced production assumptions
:1
hrs
hrs
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Cahill planning heuristics — editable model values
These are illustrative house assumptions, not published industry standards. Edit them to match your environment. A factor of 1.00 makes no adjustment.
| Model component | Value | Applied as |
|---|---|---|
| New build | core factor | |
| Existing-training conversion | core factor | |
| Existing-course refresh | core factor | |
| Approved content | core factor | |
| Structured content | core factor | |
| Rough SME content | core factor | |
| Research/content creation | core factor | |
| Inclusive baseline | core factor | |
| Enhanced WCAG effort | core factor | |
| Regulated/high assurance | core factor | |
| Each review round after 2 | % core | |
| Each active reviewer after 1 | % core | |
| SCORM testing | + | base hrs + hrs/module |
| xAPI/cmi5 | + | base hrs + hrs/module |
| Custom/LTI integration | + | base hrs + hrs/module |
| Added-person efficiency | % capacity per added person |
Benchmark sources: ATD 2017 and the Chapman table reproduced by Learning Guild. WCAG conformance requirements: W3C WCAG 2.2.
3. Model an AI-assisted scenario
This is a scenario, not a guaranteed saving. Use a net reduction after prompt preparation, human review, quality control, and rework.
Use AI-assisted scenario as the headline estimateThe report still compares both scenarios.
%
Anything above 30% should be treated as an aggressive public-planning assumption.4. Add production costs and capacity
Media and localization remain separate so they are not silently counted twice inside the development ratio.
$/hr
%
hrs
workdays
$
Media, SME time, and localization
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hrs
hrs
min
$
%
hrs
$/hr
% core
%
Video rates exclude talent, travel, studio, stock, music, captions, and other hard costs unless entered under vendor costs.