Agile Estimations in a Nutshell
Originally published in GoRetro
What’s the best Agile estimation technique?
People from all over the world often ask me this question. The question itself doesn’t bug me, but the misunderstandings of estimations do. If you are searching for a perfect way to predict effort, I am afraid you will only be disappointed.
In a complex system, estimations will always be inaccurate.
But wait a minute, if estimations are inherently inaccurate, what’s their point? You may think estimates enable you to create a rock-solid plan. Perhaps you use estimates to develop an extensive and precise Gantt Chart. Many Project Managers used to do that, and inevitably one day, they would come to work and say, “Either we cut scope, or we miss the deadline.”
Lesson: Don’t use estimations to make promises; they won’t make your teams 100% predictable
In my perspective, estimates help us understand our uncertainty level. An excellent method will develop a shared understanding across the team, ultimately speeding up the results.
In this post I will share the most common Agile estimation techniques and explore their advantages and…
