Topic: Estimates

[Kerry]

Thanks George for the link

http://blog.8thlight.com/uncle-bob/2012/04/20/Why-Is-Estimating-So-Hard.html

And if anyone tries to tell you that your estimate is bogus because the task is so simple, ask them to write down the procedure for tying their shoes.

I have a lot of time for (Uncle) Bob Martin

[mohnston]

Nice article Kerry. Thank you.
It made me think of something I read in "The Mythical Man-Month" by Fredrick P. Brooks.
One of the reasons for software project failure:

Gutless Estimating
Observe that for the programmer, as for the chef, the urgency of
the patron may govern the scheduled completion of the task, but
it cannot govern the actual completion. An omelette, promised in
two minutes, may appear to be progressing nicely. But when it has
not set in two minutes, the customer has two choices— wait or eat
it raw. Software customers have had the same choices.
The cook has another choice; he can turn up the heat. The
result is often an omelette nothing can save— burned in one part,
raw in another.

[Lee Mac]

Very interesting article; and now another site that I shall be revisiting many times!

Thanks for sharing Kerry 

[M-dub]

That was a very interesting article and I've already shared it with one co-worker who, just yesterday, handed over a construction package for a small job.
The guy he handed it to laughed and said, "Ha! That's a lot of paper for one small valve!", which made the issuer feel a little ... well, disheartened.

Kerry, the last line you quoted is golden!