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.
