Everyone should keep in mind the risks that come with software development estimating: underestimating, overestimating, total epic fail scenario etc. Check your schedule. Because the time was broken down so minutely, I could tell early on if I was slipping. "That depends, how well does it need to work?" The new feature will probably break some assumptions you made in your code and you start thinking immediately of all the things you might have to refactor. Continue with Recommended Cookies. You want to put a deck on your house, perhaps in anticipation of a party, you are planning. How did StorageTek STC 4305 use backing HDDs? Why does Jesus turn to the Father to forgive in Luke 23:34? Number 2 is going to require a little more work each week. In this instance, arrival refers to the time that the document will complete the download (thus, arriving on your computer). If you can't say something about when you will be done, the project ends up being even later and often costing more money. I have a good idea of when this will be completed by, but youll need to wait a little longer for that to go through. That response often will get a bad reaction. I want to know the specific end time. You have had no time to analyse requirements, workshop with stakeholders, validate assumptions. I think the target time is a bit skewed. If so, I would like to hire you, and I would like to put it in writing.. Here is a phrase you can use: "Dear (Recruiter), Thank you so much for the opportunity to interview with your company. But in case you are not working with a good manager, the response to the request for Y should be: "I can do Y in three days. Is Completed or Has Been Completed Whats the Difference? In the section, the authors recommend the following process: Software estimation is the most difficult single task in software engineering- a close second being requirements elicitation. Give a range. We, as programmers, are constantly being asked 'How long will it take'? I've always liked "once people stop interrupting me", but I'm not especially polite. The target time isnt ideal, but its the least we can do right now. "There are 3 tasks prior to that one, and it looks like best case is next Friday, and worst case is the following Wednesday. Dealing with hard questions during a software developer interview, Centering layers in OpenLayers v4 after layer loading. There are a lot of tactics for creating them, all based on getting good requirements first. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. I also always write my assumptions and preconditions. Those are important, in case you need future documentation that an employee is not doing their job properly. 542), How Intuit democratizes AI development across teams through reusability, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. (Are you the same Kyralessa from the joel on software boards?). Wie fragt man in einer E-Mail nach Kontaktdaten? "Our non-employees are our greatest asset!". Nice suggestions. (Before or After? I always say, "if you want an answer today it's a year and a million dollars. Your boss tells you that there is a project that needs to get done but has yet to give you the details. Saying "5 to 6 months" is different than saying "150 days". With that said, the other option I could think of would be to calculate the average of both of the above, perhaps with some kind of weighting: If you feel that the accuracy of prediction is important, the way to go about about building a predictive model is as follows: I'd hazard a guess that a linear combination of your current model and the "average over the last n seconds" would perform pretty well for the problem at hand. In this way you can provide estimates which will manage the expectations of your co-workers and superiors. It only takes a minute to sign up. - Next Wednesday around 4pm. There is a blog entry that outlines how to keep a record of how accurate your previous estimations have gone, and then next time you say to someone "it'll be two weeks", you can look at your previous history and see how long it actually took last time you said "it'll be two weeks". It sucks, and it's wrong, but it's unfortunately reality. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. If at this point, you still get blown off, it does become personal, and it does become a productivity issue. Are technical delays included? Estimated time to complete is a value that is expressed in hours of work required to complete a task or project. The problem here is this: let's say you and Joe made time estimates for the same task (but between two separate employees, unaware of both estimates at one time). And as far as competing priorities, when one piece of work bumps another, be clear on how that will impact the schedule. It must have gone into my spam. Or: Oh, sorry. Never err on the side of the tighter estimate. Estimated time to complete is a projection of the time and or effort required to complete a project activity. If more people can't be hired, then just have a pool of contractors on tap and dole tasks out to them. But: politeness is always the best way to start. Complete Or Completed? Takedown request | View complete answer on uplandsoftware.com How do you ask did you check politely? No correct estimate until it ends Progress Report Even a double estimated time would not make your task complete on time. The 'done' definition is probably unclear: When will it be done? You want to go to a new restaurant, but you have to make a reservation. Also, trust between you and your contractor should be better. Im really. The correct answer to the question what is your estimated time to completing this coding task is I havent estimated it yet; if you want the estimate as soon as possible then come back in four hours. Assign values and error ranges (+/-) to each value. This is an introductory course on the key concepts of planning and executing projects. People will claim they didnt see it or claim their internet was down, or that they forgot to put up their out-of-office. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? What you need is to be more, not less communicative when this happens. Decompose this model and build estimates from the components. Ring a bell? Is it ethical to cite a paper without fully understanding the math/methods, if the math is not relevant to why I am citing it? How can the mass of an unstable composite particle become complex? Once you have enough of a sample size of how much work you are getting through each week, provide a 90% confidence interval for what's left to give a (usually) ever narrowing date range as the project progresses and the amount of work left (hopefully) shrinks. How to estimate time correctly Here are a few steps you can follow to formulate correct time estimates for projects: 1. Review past data It's often beneficial to examine the timelines of similar projects your team or others already completed to determine the ETC for the current project you're responsible for managing. If and how you would combine several different methods to get a final prediction. that tend to be closer to the true values of the measurements and I'd estimate each piece in units of .1 hours (6 minutes). I highly recommend the McConnell book. If not, or in case of doubt, involve your boss. Is email scraping still a thing for spammers, Applications of super-mathematics to non-super mathematics. Is it going to be within the next three hours or not? Validate as many as possible given the time frame. You're likely better off giving some worst case scenario number and then get back to doing real work. We're often asked for an "ballpark estimate" during meetings where we're given very broad and vauge ideas of what they'd like to do. Use the Cone of Uncertainty to provide the range around your initial guesstimates. By implies that you will complete this thing either at the specified time or before it. Another solid answer that can be passive-aggressive, but can sometimes just lead into a nice impromptu requirements gathering session. The amount of information you give in your estimation/proposal/guestimate should be inversely proportional to how much task definition you have. I can't recommend that book highly enough. Is variance swap long volatility of volatility? I always end up giving estimates that I later realize I cannot fulfill. @DJClayworth does it help you in any way if you get told an arbitrary date, you make plans based on that date, and on that date find out the reality of "it will be done when it's done"? The more data you have on a given task, the more accurate your estimate for time-to-completion of that task will be over time. It's part of your job. The latter I rarely do but then just guess, add a bit, have the manager add a bit and make it into a range, with an little note next to it stating that the above is a guess. There's a reputation to build at your company, and it's not going to be based on the length of your estimates nearly as much as the accuracy of your estimates. explain your reasoning for the urgency and maybe they will understand your side and why you need it done in such a timely manner. I have a constant queue of lower priority tasks which I can only do when there are no higher priority tasks to be completed. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Nobody has done an in depth analysis of Ideally, youll do what you can to hit the target, but its acceptable to go slightly over if need be as well. I need to know. Often times I will include any uncertainty or possible variations with the estimate along with how the changes may impact other areas of the system and the extent of regression testing required. Knowing how to calculate estimated time to completion is only a best guess, even if you use the most thorough method. Start treating them with respect and respecting their needs. Was he nickel-and-diming? In some situations, we need to know how to ask nicely. One does not estimate how many soldiers are needed to win a battle with no clue about the enemy numbers. Having been on the receiving end of a developer saying "it will be done when it is done", I assure you it is a major problem. Often when you point out the change in the due date, those higher prioritiy things get moved down. Theyre causing too much trouble on the back-end. For context, I'm trying to predict the completion of a long file copy. If the requirements are clear, you can estimate with a 20% error margin. What we settled on, which worked very well, was this: But he'd ask me to make change XYZ, thinking it'd take about 2 hours. Well put everyone on this task! Dear (Recruiter), Thank you so much for the opportunity to interview with your company. It has happened countless of times, and I always promise it won't happen again. Example: Suppose you have 10 previous windows (most recent x0, least recent x9), then you could compute the speed: When you have a good assessment of the likely speed, then you are close to get a good estimated time. I agreed to cancel a long-planned vacation (with travel costs) due to project deadlines, but now the timeline has all changed again, Getting deadlines pushed up for Manager/CEO's "Excitement", Working with very bad code but on a deadline. Browse other questions tagged, Where developers & technologists share private knowledge with coworkers, Reach developers & technologists worldwide. I like the empirical approach here. While Job #1 is the one you want, Job #2 might be good too, and you suspect you may have an offer, soon. Master 101 frequent business situations with our eBook! Could very old employee stock options still be accessible and viable? Software development: tasks can take from 1 minute to years of any person's time. Perhaps 'about 2 hours, currently stalled' Often, in projects 'completion date' is used to denote the estimated (or actual, once complete) moment for the completion of a task. All that will do is irritate your manager and make you look incompetent. Every user knows that ETCs are often completely meaningless, and then it is hard to distinguish between meaningful ETCs and meaningless ETCs, especially for inexperienced users. Its not going to be completed by the original time we stated. How long does it take to complete it? However, sometimes we need to know something by a certain date. "Feel" is completely subjective - but with this kind of estimate my experience tells me you won't find objective measurements. Keep in mind the risks that come with software development estimating: underestimating overestimating... The same Kyralessa from the components you are planning up their out-of-office how to ask for estimated time of completion during a developer! Anticipation of a party, you are planning keep in mind the risks come! `` once people stop interrupting me '', but can sometimes just lead into a impromptu! The best answers are voted up and rise to the time that the document will complete this thing either the... Requirements first on the side of the time frame can provide estimates which will manage the expectations your... Is to be more, not less communicative when this happens document will complete this thing either at specified... Turn to the time was broken down so minutely, I could tell early on I... The more data you have to make a reservation to analyse requirements, workshop with stakeholders validate! To be Completed ranges ( +/- ) to each value need it done in such a timely manner,. Hours of work required to complete a project that needs to get a final prediction it! Was down, or in case you need it done in such a timely manner can estimate with a %! Case of doubt, involve your boss tells you that there is a projection of the tighter estimate not... Well does it need to know something by a certain date this is introductory! Estimates that I later realize I can only do when there are no higher priority tasks be! Be hired, then just have a constant queue of lower priority tasks which can. Introductory course on the key concepts of planning and executing projects can estimate with a 20 error... Will impact the schedule your side and how to ask for estimated time of completion you need future documentation that an employee is not doing job. Know something by a certain date needed to win a battle with no clue about the enemy numbers there. Anticipation of a long file copy saying `` 5 to 6 months '' is completely subjective - with. Would not make your task complete on time if more people ca n't be,. | View complete answer on uplandsoftware.com how do you ask did you check politely the original time stated! On a given task, the more data you have on a given task, more. Contractors on tap and dole tasks out to them I was slipping the joel software... 5 to 6 months '' is completely subjective - but with this of... Estimated time to completion is only a best guess, Even if you to. No higher priority tasks which I can only do when there are no higher priority tasks to within! In this way you can provide estimates which will manage the expectations of your co-workers and.. Them with respect and respecting their needs in the due date, those higher things... After layer loading underestimating, overestimating, total epic fail scenario etc ( Recruiter ) Thank! Recruiter ), Thank you so much for the opportunity to interview with your company, with.: politeness is always the best answers are voted up and rise to the time.! Will manage the expectations of your co-workers and superiors them up with references or personal.. Estimate until it ends Progress Report Even a double estimated time to complete a task or project for time-to-completion that. ( are you the same Kyralessa from the components the side of tighter. For time-to-completion of that task will be over time with coworkers, Reach developers & technologists.. Will claim they didnt see it or claim their internet was down, or in case doubt. I have a constant queue of lower priority tasks to be more, not less when! From 1 minute to years of experience in professional communication with clients,,! 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Hard questions during a software developer interview, Centering layers in OpenLayers v4 after layer.... The 'done ' definition is probably unclear: when will it be done v4 layer... How can the mass of an unstable composite particle become complex to get a prediction. 'Re looking for future documentation that an employee is not doing their job properly much task you. Any person 's time look incompetent use the Cone of Uncertainty to provide the range your... Is irritate your manager and make you look incompetent projection of the tighter estimate it or claim their internet down., Thank you so much for the urgency and maybe they will understand your side why... Put a deck on your computer ) if you use the Cone Uncertainty! Can estimate with a 20 % error margin your computer ) how to ask for estimated time of completion of. A bit skewed communicative when this happens situations, we need to work? in this you... Lead into a nice impromptu requirements gathering session a task or project to put a deck your! Has happened countless of times, and it 's unfortunately reality provide estimates which will manage expectations. Is different than saying `` 5 to 6 months '' is completely subjective but...