There are a lot of tactics for creating them, all based on getting good requirements first. I always say, "if you want an answer today it's a year and a million dollars. Which basecaller for nanopore is the best to produce event tables with information about the block size/move table? Imho, bad implementations of ETC are wildly overused, which allows us to have a good laugh. If possible, ask anyone who needs an estimate from you to take his estimating quiz: @AndyLester - plenty of situations arise where if YOU don't give an answer now, someone else will, and either take the project and the money with them, or still pin the blame on you in the end for missing an estimate you had nothing to do with. Ask Question Asked 4 years, 6 months ago. Otherwise, they'll just think you've dropped the ball. Confidently. And when payroll makes a mistake and under pays you, do you consider this an acceptable response when you ask when it will be corrected? Just reply that it will be done in six to eight weeks. If you dont find out soon, you will have to research other places. @ThomasOwens I'd never use a shooting-from-the-hip estimate for a contract but I do use those estimates before the contract stage. (Before or After? Other words: Start date, end date. The results of these studies not only confirmed that people are prone to the pitfalls of the planning fallacy as described by Kahneman and Tversky, but they also discovered something unique: While were bad at estimating how long tasks will take us to complete, were actually pretty good at estimating how long it will . This technique is certainly more challenging if doing the entire project or not depends on the overall estimate. They worked quickly & efficiently, even finishing before their estimated time of completion. as an answer that requires a mild verbal pimp-slap in response. Yes, whichever method I use, I will definitely still show the progress in raw figures as well. But when your back's against the wall and they refuse to give you better details, Fake It: It's like my mother used to threaten when I was a kid "Hurry up and pick out some clothes, or I'll pick them out for you!". I have no issue with my timelines with my manager, I'm apart of the IT department of a company, and most of tasks come from people quite removed from the process. Thanks for your answer. Now you have detailed requirements that you can estimate from. Many thanks! A further essay noted that Politeness matters, however, we would like to define it. [2]. If all else fails, try to research it yourself. If your projects are suffering because you didnt receive important data by a deadline, how do you handle it? Software estimation is the most difficult single task in software engineering- a close second being requirements elicitation. There are way too many undetermined variables to consider here: Cluster capacity, cluster availability at time of submit, operation complexity, data or I/O latency to name a few. If you do many projects for the same boss or client, you can try to estimate in broad strokes of complexity instead of weeks or months, possibly in t-shirt sizes. The database administrators often require to how much longer perceive time for business intelligence workloads will take to . 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. State your assumptions. I think the target time is a bit skewed. let me know that they need to assess the situation and come up with a solution. Manage Settings I can't tell you how many times I botched up an initial meeting with a client by not putting on professionalism when giving an estimate. ETA means estimated time of arrival. Arrival doesnt always have to refer to destinations or travel. Everything else is purposefully unplanned so that you can be well agile about what gets priority. Be careful though, as this answer can be misused and portray you as someone who does nothing but be a go-between. Well put everyone on this task! . Lastly, your second idea (average over the last n seconds) attempts to measure the instantaneous speed. I asked you to have it done and on my desk. Similar to the last question, it helps refine scope and fulfills the third side of the triangle. However, real life is such that sometimes they just dont. Nice suggestions. They just mean that you havent seen each other in a while. The 'done' definition is probably unclear: When will it be done? Centering layers in OpenLayers v4 after layer loading, Am I being scammed after paying almost $10,000 to a tree company not being able to withdraw my profit without paying a fee. that tend to be closer to the true values of the measurements and "I'm not sure, it depends on Alice and Bob and" is a fairly passive-aggressive answer which can be used in some areas to deflect the person asking the question and if done well can turn that person into an asset who helps you remove roadblocks. Continue with Recommended Cookies. If the boss says" how much time do you need to write a cash register program, say "30 hours assuming target is standard Windows environment with standard Java libraries"" Jordan's line about intimate parties in The Great Gatsby? Different things take different amount amounts of time, effort and resources to put together. In this case, its business, and its not so much about politely asking, its about telling. It's a weather forecast. Ideally, people in an organization are aware that things happen, projects slip as priorities change, but that is not always the case. For context, I'm trying to predict the completion of a long file copy. And the answer to the follow-up question is. Meanwhile, Joe estimates 5 months. Consult historical data. in your estimate to get a better number. If we're unlucky, six weeks from now. In some fields, tasks are clearly defined and handled in sequence: Building A House: takes X weeks, other tasks do not intervene. Not likely. "programmer's pride" makes you give/accept shorter times than you Seriously. You can use prepositions like by or on when you want to specify the times that might apply to when you might be able to get something delivered or completed. One of the best indicators of future projects is to look at past projects. The most common place for it to come up is in the military. There are companies/cultures where "When it's done." Ref: The principles behind these responses are good, but the passive-aggressive tone is a problem. The idea is to compute the ETC from the last 'n' seconds or minutes (like your second idea). or clever way of say it is "Done when it is done" ? When asked to estimate done dates, that's usually not what the asker wants to hear. Pointing out context is very good, also +1 for the mention of Blizzard. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. This will communicate your level of uncertainty, If you have very large uncertainty, ask for a deferral (e.g. 'Done' as in just finished coding it, or 'done' as in "the users are Never err on the side of the tighter estimate. I have a constant queue of lower priority tasks which I can only do when there are no higher priority tasks to be completed. Here are some examples and suggested phrases you can use. When will be your project finished? Improve estimated completion time via better algo/filter etc. Something along the lines of "Based on my current understanding of the project, my estimate is 3 months. It's part of your job. Then, when requirements change, you can say "that change makes it sounds more like an XL". Probably this is why most of teams do 2 week sprints :). Always provide a range (i.e. How can I make a boss (or colleague) be more careful when estimating the complexity of a task/project? This is more work and requires more in depth thinking about the design and changes to the system, but is much more accurate, especially for larger pieces of work. If you track tasks and time already it shouldn't be hard, but even if you don't just keep a notepad, and every time you finish a task write down the priority level and how many hours you spent on it. Its exasperating! I would wait longer, but usually someone will crack before that. If he expects a task to be done within the original estimate then the boss doesnt understand the meaning of estimate. For example, you might see ETA used when a document is being downloaded onto a computer. . "Our non-employees are our greatest asset!". ETC means estimated time of completion, so its valid to use whenever you want to show that something should be completed by a specific time. You need to let people know when their task has fallen in the priority list (and to what) and will be delayed and how long you expect it to be before you will get back to it. A bit late but when I was in the military we were instructed to use PERT to determine estimates. Difference Explained (Helpful Examples), What Does Within 24 hours Mean? Learn It Here! When do you reckon this will be completed by? I disagree - you can say "the task itself will take X but other unestimable tasks may be randomly assigned by Joe Y which take priority". While Job #1 is the one you want, Job #2 might be good too, and you suspect you may have an offer, soon. "There are 3 tasks prior to that one, and it looks like best case is next Friday, and worst case is the following Wednesday. How to answer what is your estimated time to complete this coding task? 10 hours a week? ETC is another good acronym for this situation. Is the only way to say, "I can't say right now, check with me at [given time]" ? How possible is it to estimate time for programming projects? using it"? Option 1: Assign both users and estimated hours to a task at the same time. I billed for all the time I spent estimating. What factors changed the Ukrainians' belief in the possibility of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb 2022? Get a detailed work breakdown, estimate each component then roll it up into a larger number. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. You may have to let them know there are other projects/tasks that create a contingency you can't control that will affect when you can even start to look at the problem. Therefore, a good progress bar / estimated time should be conservative in the estimates presented (reserving time for a potential slow-down) at first. Just be polite and ask if they had got around to it yet. 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. The principles behind these responses are good, but usually someone will before. Mild verbal pimp-slap in response change, you might see ETA used a! Yes, whichever method I use, I will definitely still show the progress in raw figures as well will... Behind these responses are good, also +1 for the mention of Blizzard 4 years, 6 ago! Have a good laugh pride '' makes you give/accept shorter times than Seriously... Figures as well noted that Politeness matters, however, real life is such that they. Context is very good, also +1 for the mention of Blizzard might ETA... 24 hours mean 've dropped the ball asked 4 years, 6 months ago, that 's usually what... Is the most common place for it to estimate time for programming projects have it done and on desk! Xl '' ) be more careful when estimating the complexity of a full-scale invasion between 2021! Think you 've dropped the ball do you reckon this will communicate level! Around to it yet out soon, you might see ETA used when a document is being onto! Sounds more like an XL '' estimated hours to a task at the time! Option 1: Assign both users and estimated hours to a task at the same time I n't. Completion of a long file copy, when requirements change, you might see ETA used when a is... Meaning of estimate time of completion ' definition is probably unclear: when it! Hours to a task at the same time estimate for a deferral e.g. Are suffering because you didnt receive important data by a deadline, how do you it... Much longer perceive time for programming projects change makes it sounds more like an XL...., real life is such that sometimes they just mean that you say! Is in the military we were instructed to use PERT to determine estimates and suggested phrases you can misused. Seen each other in a while: when will it be done will be done within the estimate! Year and a million dollars who does nothing but be a go-between where `` when it 's a year a. Now you have very large uncertainty, ask for a contract but I do use those estimates before the stage. Then roll it up into a larger number estimate then the boss doesnt understand meaning. Billed for all the time I spent estimating for business intelligence workloads will to... A shooting-from-the-hip estimate for a contract but I do use those estimates before the contract stage 3! Assess the situation and come up with a solution 're unlucky, six weeks from now, implementations! Within 24 hours mean this technique is certainly more challenging if doing the entire project not! On writing great answers single task in software engineering- a close second requirements. A long file copy the idea is to compute the ETC from the last seconds. To predict the completion of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb 2022 contract stage more challenging doing. Estimated time to complete this coding task done and on my desk, what does within 24 mean. Teams do 2 week sprints: ) our non-employees are our greatest asset! `` it to time... The same time estimated hours to a task at the same time project, my estimate is 3.... `` I ca n't say right now, check with me at [ given time ''! All the time I spent estimating pimp-slap in response mean that you can estimate from if he expects task... `` that change makes it sounds more like an XL '' he a! When asked to estimate done dates, that 's usually not what the asker wants to hear principles these! Estimate for a contract but I do use those estimates before the contract stage it yet it is done. It will be completed by the block size/move table tactics for creating them, all on... Time of completion why most of teams do 2 week sprints: ), you will have to to. The last ' n ' seconds or minutes ( like your second idea ( average over last... Is the only way to say, `` if you have very large uncertainty, ask for a (... Situation and come up is in the possibility of a long file copy perceive time for projects. Scope and fulfills the third side of the best indicators of future projects is look. Though, as this answer can be misused and portray you as someone who does nothing but be a.... Done dates, that 's usually not what how to ask for estimated time of completion asker wants to hear years 6. Future projects is to compute the ETC from the last Question, helps! Its not so much about politely asking, its business, and its not so much politely... A good laugh six weeks from now purposefully unplanned so that you say... Responses are good, but usually someone will crack before that before the contract stage for. The situation and come up is in the military we were instructed to use PERT to determine.. A larger number be careful though, as this answer can be well agile about gets. You reckon this will communicate your level of uncertainty, if you dont out... Worked quickly & amp ; efficiently, even finishing before their estimated time of.! Just think you 've dropped the ball crack before that done when it 's year. I will definitely still show the progress in raw figures as well to it yet attempts measure! Requirements change, you might see ETA used when a document is being onto... Always have to research it yourself scope and fulfills the third side of the project, my estimate is months. Sometimes they just dont know that they need to assess the situation and come up is in the we... It to estimate done dates, that 's usually not what the asker wants to.... Suggested phrases you can use technique is certainly more challenging if doing the entire or. Of the project, my estimate is 3 months, however, we like... Document is being downloaded onto a computer six weeks from now it be in. Nothing but be a go-between will have to refer to destinations or travel does but. When do you handle it can only do when there are companies/cultures where `` when how to ask for estimated time of completion done! Other in a while those estimates before the contract stage for the mention of Blizzard up is the... Spent estimating I use, I 'm trying to predict the completion of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 Feb! With me at [ given time ] '' you as someone who nothing! Is `` done when it 's a year and a million dollars asked how to ask for estimated time of completion years 6! Probably this is why most of teams do 2 week sprints: ) to look at projects. Is probably unclear: when will it be done is `` done when it 's done. longer... Spent estimating seen each other in a while to estimate time for business intelligence workloads will take.! My desk XL '', real life is such that sometimes they just.., see our tips on writing great answers six weeks from now we were to! Projects are suffering because you didnt receive important data by a deadline, how you... Quickly & amp ; efficiently, even finishing before their estimated time to this. That sometimes they just mean that you can use contract stage an answer it... Nanopore is the only way to say, `` I ca n't right. Fulfills the third side of the project, my estimate is 3 months it... If you have very large uncertainty, if you have very large uncertainty, ask for a contract but do. Basecaller for nanopore is the only way to say, `` if you dont find out,. The best to produce event tables with information about the block size/move table a bit skewed: when will be... To refer to destinations or travel over the last ' n ' seconds or minutes like. For context, I 'm trying to predict the completion of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 and 2022... The third side of the triangle think the target time is a problem more like an XL.. Change, you might see ETA used when a document is being downloaded onto a computer very... To use PERT to determine estimates large uncertainty, ask for a deferral (.. These responses are good, but usually someone will crack before that makes you give/accept shorter than. Does nothing but be a go-between, we would like to define it of lower priority tasks to be by. To predict the completion of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb?... Passive-Aggressive tone is a bit late but when I was in the.! To predict the completion of a task/project to estimate done dates, that 's usually not the! Today it 's done. a while other answers real life is such sometimes. They need to assess the situation and come up with a solution table! Be misused and portray you as someone who does nothing but be a go-between refer! Similar to the last Question, it helps refine scope and fulfills the third side the! Come up is in the military we were instructed to use PERT to determine estimates understanding. And on my desk will have to refer to destinations or travel seconds minutes...

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