Better Low-Information Estimates - Putting the "Scientific" in SWAG
Dec 17, 2024
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Explore how to make better wild guesses when defining work in ambiguous projects. Learn the difference between estimates and deadlines, and the psychological impacts of those deadlines. Discover effective strategies for uncertain work, including affinity estimation and PERT, emphasizing the importance of teamwork. Gain insights aimed at engineering leaders to enhance project planning efficiency, all while navigating complexities like dependencies.
Effective estimation in uncertain environments is crucial for decision-making, balancing the need for accuracy with limited available information.
Understanding the distinction between estimates and deadlines can alleviate project pressure and improve planning dynamics within teams.
Deep dives
The Complexity of Estimation in Ill-defined Work
Planning in startup environments often involves estimating poorly defined work, which can be challenging. Leaders require some form of estimation to make decisions about resource allocation and project selection. While organizations may strive for clear metrics, the reality is that many projects require quick assessments of potential ROI, especially in early-stage startups. This means estimations must be streamlined, balancing the need for accuracy with the limited information available.
Understanding Estimates vs. Deadlines
Estimates should be distinguished from deadlines, as they serve different purposes in project planning. An estimate combines a guess about future outcomes with a degree of confidence, while a deadline functions as a commitment device that often adds psychological pressure. Setting deadlines can influence team dynamics, where shorter timelines may incentivize quicker deliveries due to Parkinson's Law. Understanding this difference helps teams navigate project timelines more effectively, reducing stress and improving the planning process.
Frameworks for Effective Estimation
Three approaches for handling estimation under uncertainty are discussed: affinity estimation, PERT, and initial discovery time. Affinity estimation leverages past experiences by comparing similar tasks to generate a reasonable range of work. The PERT method refines these estimates using a three-point analysis that factors in the best, worst, and most likely scenarios. Incorporating a brief discovery phase can uncover critical insights, allowing teams to adjust their estimations based on early findings and improve their overall planning accuracy.
How can you create better scientific wild a** guesses when the work is not well defined? We discuss a few strategies in this episode. We also talk a bit about what an estimate is in the first place, and how it differs from a commitment / deadline.
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