9 Key Statements about Estimating

I won’t explain them now, but here’s the summary…

1. Estimations can be mis-used by some managers (and have been).  Watch out!
2. Customers want some kind of estimate. (Ask for details about the kind of estimate they want.)
3. There is a trade-off between the time it takes to estimate and relative accuracy.  Keep it shorter (usually) (of course, that depends on how short you were thinking…).
4. Always re-estimate; usually many times.  And arrange things with the ‘customer’ to expect a re-estimate.
5. Re-estimate when you are smarter.  Devise things so that you get smarter every sprint.
6. Always discuss the variability of the estimate.  At least in some way, with the ‘customer’ of the estimate. (‘I can promise 2017, but I can’t tell you which month.’  A small joke, illustrating the range method.)
7. People can learn to estimate better, and faster.  Sometimes they start out terrible.
8. It is not the plan, but the planning.  The Team can get many wonderful outcomes while planning.
9. Estimating can be fun, if you do it right. (But expect many teams to start with latent fear due to #1.)

Interested in your comments.

Bonus points if you notice a reference to a John Legend song.

 

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