3 ms·
Wouldn't it be more sensible to give a range instead of a fixed date? I know it's not going to happen, but I think it would be more informative and honest. Tha
by nocturnial 8y ago
Wouldn't it be more sensible to give a range instead of a fixed date? I know it's not going to happen, but I think it would be more informative and honest.
That way you could communicate better of how certain you are. There's a difference between telling something will be completed in, for example, 6 month +- 2 weeks. Or something will be finished in 6 months +- 1.5 months. The estimated time is the same but communicates the level of certainty more clearly.
Or just use between, for example, 4-6 months if you don't want to use +- notation.
- DougWebb 8y agoIn my experience, developers understand and appreciate range-based estimates. But when those numbers start moving up the communication chain, some non-developer is going to either not like or not understand the point of the range, and will convert it to a single number: either the first one, the last one, or the average. They might even be honest about it, thinking "I need to know the earliest possible date, so I'll use the low end". But then the next person, who doesn't see the range, thinks that low end is THE committed date and will plan accordingly. Now your deadline is 99% likely to be missed.
- trustfundbaby 8y agoNever works. Management will just use your lowest estimate. So you pad that and realize its the same as your high estimate, so you just give them that instead ... then they complain its too high ... rinse repeat. Unless you stand you ground.