Scoping
- Inceptions are mostly about the why
- Try to cut similar sized chunks of work
- Alternatively, estimate t-shirt sizes: S/M/L or 1, 2, 3
- PM, customer, QA should estimate as a sanity check ONLY
- Designers’ estimates can be included with devs’ estimates
- Try to estimate on a weekly basis... anything finer grained than that is likely self-delusion
- Fill up 3 weeks and take an average, and then check: does it feel right?
Measurement
- Yesterday’s weather is usually very accurate
- If you don't have yesterday's weather, default to 2 points or M
- Give yourself a wider window (2 or 3 weeks) to avoid sharp spikes at Holi
- Prefer one week iterations as a basic skeleton
- Prefer the simplest estimation possible
- Never change estimation approach mid-project
- DO NOT compensate for irregularities – sick leave and holidays are real
- Consider making an exception for serious illness, weddings, sabbaticals and unexpected events
Projection
- Take what was measured, mark it against the scope, project into the future
- Do not adjust, do not compensate, do not pad work/estimates
- Pad the end (of a release, of a project) for inevitable changes
- Be honest with everyone about what you see