Implementation of a Cost Quotation Tool for Statistical Consulting in an Academic Medical Setting: Preliminary Results

• Activity Number: 246
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 2, 2010 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Consulting
• Author(s): Rhonda J. Rosychuk*+
• Companies: University of Alberta
• Keywords: statistical consulting ; academic medical ; cost-recovery ; cost quotation ; business aspects of statistical consulting

Abstract

In an academic medical setting, researchers need to seek competitive funds through grant competitions. Statistical input in such funding applications is key. Budgets for statistical work are included and are often based on a consultant's views of the scope of the work and the amount of time necessary to complete the work. We developed an estimation tool to use in a partial cost-recovery statistical consultancy affiliated with a health research institute. In our setting, we are to provide reasonable quotes for statistical activities and often our timelines to do so are short. Our estimation tool is a function based on data available about the future project (e.g., number of variables) and scope of work to be performed (e.g., number of regressions). We provide a preliminary assessment based on some completed and ongoing projects. The tool worked reasonably well for smaller projects.