When to use it
Use a maturity statement to prevent an early estimate being treated as a firm commitment.
When to be cautious
Do not copy a proprietary estimate-class table or apply a standard accuracy range across unrelated industries.
Apply it
- Record what is known about quantities, design and delivery conditions.
- State the estimation method, exclusions and uncertainty drivers.
- Update the range as definition and evidence improve.
An example in practice
A concept option has uncertain ground conditions. Report the assumption and investigation needed rather than attaching a false precision band.
Source & credit
Standard estimating practice; the cited guide documents use rather than claiming invention.
GAO: Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide
This explanation and example are independently written. The source is a reading reference; linking it does not grant permission to reuse its text, figures or assessments.