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9 Key Statements about Estimating
October 17, 2014
I won’t explain them now, but here’s the summary…
- Estimations can be mis-used by some managers (and have been). Watch out!
- Customers want some kind of estimate. (Ask for details about the kind of estimate they want.)
- 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…).
- Always re-estimate; usually many times. And arrange things with the ‘customer’ to expect a re-estimate.
- Re-estimate when you are smarter. Devise things so that you get smarter every sprint.
- 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.)
- People can learn to estimate better, and faster. Sometimes they start out terrible.
- It is not the plan, but the planning. The Team can get many wonderful outcomes while planning.
- 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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