This phrase is derived from the English
slang word buggerance meaning something annoying, an untimely interruption or anything else that interferes with the
smooth progress of work. It is used a lot in project management where it became necessary to allow additional time for these unforeseen and unforeseeable events. Where it was not possible to allow this time against a particular element of the project, a non-specific increase in time was allowed to cover these eventualities, this became known as the Buggerance Factor.
The Buggerance Factor is there to cover the
extra time needed to rectify those things, which
never ever
go wrong, but invariably do if you
fail to allow for them. It is usually added because of a sixth sense on the part of the project manager that something unexpected is going to happen and is the factor that allows for the law of project management that states Parkinson,
Murphy and Sod are alive and well and working on your project. See also Malcolm’s Law.