Estimates Are Evil!
By Derek Neighbors on November 28, 2012
A young man was bitten by a pitbull when he was 10. Ever since then every time he has noticed a pitbull it is barking, snarling and threatening to him. He is now 35. He believes that pitbull’s are a vicious breed and that they should not be family pets.
Many developers feel the same way about estimates. At one time they worked for a company that abused them with estimates. Ever since then they see all the attributes of estimation as evil and avoid them at all cost. Now they believe that estimates are a vicious breed and should not be used in development ever.
Estimates like pitbulls can be deadly, but not all estimates or pitbulls are evil. Be careful when using absolutes. If you want a more nuanced look at planning, check out six ways to improve your scrum planning meeting.
