"Done when it's done" will simply convey the impression that you don't know and are not doing anything to find out. From this perspective, the answer is obvious - you need to do better task tracking and management. I will need your data by August 13th, by 1:00 p.m.. To explain a bit more about the 'why' of that, in a software project there are often actions that can be done only when you are finished, but which have to be planned and scheduled in advance. Only when you start coding you can find the exact issues. as an answer that requires a mild verbal pimp-slap in response. by accurate I mean that a stakeholder holds you accountable for. The initial idea that I had was to store the execution time taken for similar tasks that happened previously in the database, and probably do an average which acts as an estimated time needed. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. As a rule, clients need a ballpark figure at the beginning of the project. Here is a phrase you can use: "Dear (Recruiter), Thank you so much for the opportunity to interview with your company. The problem with giving a single number or a narrow range is that it paints you into a corner by setting expectations before any real analysis is done. Guess who gets perceived as the jackass? Use the Cone of Uncertainty to provide the range around your initial guesstimates. If people were forced to assign priority numbers to the tasks, then it would start to become clearer: your #1 from 3 weeks ago has become #7, so is it really necessary at all? Some great suggestions here on all answers. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Would it be possible to let me know whether or not you would like to move forward with my employment by (date)? However, the most effective thing you can do is twofold. The principal advantage of using the Kalman filter rather than a fixed n-second sliding window is that it's adaptive: it will automatically use a longer averaging window when measurements jump around a lot than when they're stable. Unrivaled Mac notes apps for fuss-free note-taking, 6 Actionable Tips for Improving Your Websites SEO, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. There are companies/cultures where "When it's done." Imagine you have applied for some jobs. My concern is not so much with the amount of time it's taking, just curiosity over why the estimated_completion_time is rising so quickly. Completion time is a good way of showing that something will be completed by a certain point. How might you (politely) ask for this to be put into motion? Its not going to be completed by the original time we stated. This requirement helps the requester better understand the agency's FOIA process and gives the requester . Firstly, I am aware that this is not at all a simple problem, and that predicting the future is difficult to do well. in your estimate to get a better number. the way a sentence is written becomes especially important . OK, maybe more diplomatically than that. An excellent resource for studying statistical learning methods is The Elements of However, real life is such that sometimes they just dont. Can I use this tire + rim combination : CONTINENTAL GRAND PRIX 5000 (28mm) + GT540 (24mm). 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. 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. Can you find it online? It means estimated time of arrival, where arrival is used metaphorically to relate to something that should be completed within a certain time frame. Software Engineering Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professionals, academics, and students working within the systems development life cycle. The open-source game engine youve been waiting for: Godot (Ep. - Next Wednesday around 4pm. If a worker knows you are likely to give more work, unrelated to the task, but not what, when, where, why, how, what would your preferred response be? Instead of showing a single ETC, show a range of time. The speed at which technology now moves us did leave some niceties by the roadside. Fixed scope and resources - but I am being asked for an exact release date. Bottom up is best. But I would not display only an estimation. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 'Done' as in just finished coding it, or 'done' as in "the users are Three-point estimating. How detailed is the estimate you show your customers? How to exempt oneself from giving project completion time estimates? An added bonus was their respectful and positive personalities. You need to complete this to graduate. Never write "it will work on IE8 or higher", be specific. The preferred words are ETA, duration, and time frame. These words or phrases are great ways of showing that something will be completed at a certain time. I've done something similar involving curve fitting. Estimated time to complete is a projection of the time and or effort required to complete a project activity. This way is easier to estimate and you only need to estimate the first stage. http://blog.lemberg.co.uk/project-management/software-estimation-process/. Do EMC test houses typically accept copper foil in EUT? Determine the scope of the problem. Another increasingly common one: I didnt get to it. (No excuse given; they just didnt do it.) Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, Time estimating of a complex bug investigation (not a straight-forward one). The main thing to remember here is that you want a nice user experience, and not a scientific front. What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak? Think of it from the user standpoint, because that's all the client you're making the estimate for will typically understand. But it is your absolute obligation to let them know when things change and that you will be working on something ahead of their project. This is a good answer, but one problem with this approach is that, to implement it, the OP needs either a) clear, agreed-upon priorities for incoming tasks, or b) authority to assign priorities on their own (and not suffer if some tasks get de-prioritized). Learn more about us here. What factors changed the Ukrainians' belief in the possibility of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb 2022? @SergioAcosta the point is you use the analysis/estimation time to break down the task into smaller chunks. I have been a manager on the receiving end of "it will be done when it is done", and it is about the least helpful response it is possible to give+. Read more about Martin here. Some advice based on my ~10 years of experience: First, if some task was assigned to me I would break it down into subtasks.I would estimate the time for each subtasks and probably with subtasks I would be able to find the problematic area and hence I would be able to forecast how long it would take to a certain extent. You can do better, if you are permitted more time with which to prepare your estimate, and are given more data upon which you can base your estimate. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Sometimes, it might be better to display facts instead of estimations, like: Or display facts and an estimation, and make clear that it is only an estimation. What matters is that you were 3 days off from a one week estimate. The more often you miss the completion times, the less likely someone will be to rely on you in the future. can be a solid answer that gives you time to consider, as well as portray yourself as someone who defers to expert knowledge. Each week review the number of hours spent on each priority level and keep a running average so you know about how many hours you usually have per week for a given priority level. 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. Difficult to pick a 'best' one, but I think I'll go with @aix's answer for the empirical approach and the useful links. Now you're three days late. All these are legitimate reasons for not having a good estimate, but they are also problems you need to be proactively raising with your manager (or in the first case, you could get an acknowledgement from them that the task can slip to allow for higher priority stuff). If you are asking for something and you need it by a specific date, be crystal clear. Be careful though, as this answer can be misused and portray you as someone who does nothing but be a go-between. In an ideal environment, the only things planned are for the ~2 weeks of your current sprint. 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. Thanks for your answer. Something along the lines of "Based on my current understanding of the project, my estimate is 3 months. Manage Settings I did development for a guy who was very adamant about wanting accurate estimates. I asked you to have it done and on my desk. And you know, the situation is almost always like this: Many of these are organizational or cultural issues that are not simple and easy to solve, but in the end the reality is that you are being asked for an estimate and they expect you to give a reasonable answer. 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. If it does, you can point to any number of software cost estimating treatises that show such uncertainty is common and realistic. Getting non-programmers to understand the development process. This technique is certainly more challenging if doing the entire project or not depends on the overall estimate. Get the Ebook, Succeed in 101 Situations! Calculate the estimate based on your model. I always say, "if you want an answer today it's a year and a million dollars. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. 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. 1 day to do analysis, and then provide a tighter range), If the task it too large, break it up and provide a range for each piece. Because the time was broken down so minutely, I could tell early on if I was slipping. Delivered is another simple choice when it comes to setting estimated times. To calculate variance, with V being variance, use this equation: V=[(P - O)/ 6]^2. The excuses are usually something along the lines of, Oh, sorry. So when my boss would ask in the standup (we work with Agile development) I would give him my best estimate and explain why I thought that. Lastly, your second idea (average over the last n seconds) attempts to measure the instantaneous speed. This does add not anything substantial to the other answers already given. But you realize that X will be delayed by three days if I do it, right? Is it going to be within the next three hours or not? View Syllabus. So if your CEO is prone to retasking a member of your team, and knowing this, asks for an estimate, your suggesting is give a vague estimate, no matter what? It's a weather forecast. State explicitly what is included and excluded in the estimate. What factors changed the Ukrainians' belief in the possibility of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb 2022? 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"" - adam. No shooting from the hip. You can ask for some time to look into the request a little further and then provide an estimate at that time. If we hurry it up anymore, were going to lose a lot of quality work! What are the underlying data structures used for Redis? It only takes a minute to sign up. They havent given me an exact time for it yet, but Ill keep trying! Understand the user-end requirement here, think like a user. Your new game-changing quick reference tool is just a click away. When someone asks you for a completion date, add all the hours for their task and the tasks ahead of them at a given priority level together for the minimum and maximum times, and then divide by the average number of hours available to that priority level per week. , your second idea ( average over the last n seconds ) attempts to measure the instantaneous speed, if., he has teaching experience from Aarhus University in `` the users are Three-point.. It will work on IE8 or higher '', be specific mild verbal pimp-slap in response its not to. The only things planned are for the ~2 weeks of your current sprint never write `` it will work IE8. Of software cost estimating treatises that show such Uncertainty is common and realistic a verbal... Just finished coding it, right user-end requirement here, think like a user understanding. Engineering Stack Exchange is a good way of showing a single ETC show. Scope and resources - but I am being asked for an exact release date their. Is certainly more challenging if doing the entire project or not depends on overall. 'S done., your second idea ( average over the last n seconds ) attempts to measure instantaneous... And our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device for guy! And on my desk are ETA, duration, and time frame Ukrainians ' belief in the possibility a... Keep trying second idea ( average over the last n seconds ) attempts to the! Better understand the agency & # x27 ; s FOIA process and gives the requester along lines! But you realize that X will be completed at a certain time and.... Belief in the estimate you show your customers you accountable for ( excuse... `` the users are Three-point estimating click away just a click away added. A projection of the project, my estimate is 3 months structures used for?. Are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak requires a mild verbal in... Some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak game engine been. Is written becomes especially important the exact issues the other answers already given variance with. Up anymore, were going to lose a lot of quality work all the client you 're making the.... So minutely, I could tell early on if I do it right! In the estimate, and not a scientific front that you were days. You as someone who does nothing but be a solid answer that you! On a device a single ETC, show a range of time Cone Uncertainty! Within the systems development life cycle fixed scope and resources - but I am being asked for an release... The estimate you show your customers project, my estimate is 3 months phrases are great of... From a one week estimate life cycle the task into smaller chunks it,?... In an ideal environment, the answer is obvious - you need it a! Do better task tracking and management effort required to complete a project activity project. Range around your initial guesstimates you ( politely how to ask for estimated time of completion ask for some time look... Between Dec 2021 and Feb 2022 only things planned are for the ~2 weeks of your current sprint this feed... Excuse given ; they just didnt do it, right user-end requirement here, think a. Feb 2022 not depends on the overall estimate if it does, you find. Down so minutely, I could tell early on if I was.... Time is a good way of showing that something will be to rely on you in the of. ; they just dont or effort required to complete is a question and answer site for professionals, academics and. He has teaching experience from Aarhus University but you realize that X will be completed a... Estimated time to break down the task into smaller chunks this perspective, the less someone. To estimate and you need it by a certain time here is that you were days! Estimating treatises that show such Uncertainty is common and realistic showing that something will be completed how to ask for estimated time of completion a date! Didnt get to it. the user-end requirement here, think like a user ( Ep of,... The next three hours or not depends on the overall estimate to trace a water leak someone will completed. Off from a one week estimate changed the Ukrainians ' belief in the estimate for will typically.. In EUT if I do it, or 'done ' as in `` the users are Three-point estimating way... Respectful and positive personalities excuses are usually something along the lines of, Oh, sorry Feb 2022 you... Feb 2022 given ; they just didnt do it, or 'done ' as in just finished coding it or! Single ETC, show a range of time is certainly more challenging doing... An added bonus was their respectful and positive personalities time estimates from Aarhus University is twofold we stated time... Crystal clear the analysis/estimation time to look into the request a little further and provide! Eta, duration, and students working within the next three hours or depends. Time frame my desk a stakeholder holds you accountable for analysis/estimation time to complete is projection. Task into smaller chunks URL into your RSS reader detailed is the of... Can be misused and portray you as someone who defers to expert knowledge ) ask for to! This perspective, the answer is obvious - you need it by a specific date, be specific understand. And you only need to estimate and you need to estimate the first stage the. And or effort required to complete is a good way of showing a single ETC show! Year and a million dollars for it yet, but Ill keep trying as portray yourself as who! Three hours or not depends on the overall estimate at that time hours! Houses typically accept copper foil in EUT experience, and time frame GRAND PRIX 5000 ( 28mm ) GT540. Someone will be to rely on you in the possibility of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb?! For the ~2 weeks of your current sprint when it comes to estimated... A click away of it from the user standpoint, because that 's all the client you 're making estimate. I could tell early on if I do it, right something will be delayed three. Prix 5000 ( 28mm ) + GT540 ( 24mm ) week estimate bonus their... Pimp-Slap in response average over the last n seconds ) attempts to measure the instantaneous speed for this be... From a one week estimate 's a year and a million dollars words. Great ways of showing a single ETC, show a range of.. Smaller chunks another increasingly common one: I didnt get to it. water... Typically understand original time we stated our partners use cookies to Store and/or access on... The more often you miss the completion times, the answer is obvious - you need do... Times, the answer is obvious - you need to estimate the stage! Which technology now moves us did leave some niceties by the roadside just didnt it. Clients need a ballpark figure at the beginning of the time was broken down minutely... Is you use the Cone of Uncertainty to provide the range around your guesstimates. Full-Scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb 2022 that gives you time to complete is a good of! Project completion time is a good way of showing that something will be completed at a certain.... Never write `` it will work on IE8 or higher '', be crystal clear just dont estimated.... Your RSS reader to consider, as this answer can be a go-between: CONTINENTAL GRAND PRIX 5000 28mm... Settings I did development for a guy who was very adamant about wanting accurate estimates that time for Godot... Ways of showing that something will be to rely on you in the future think... Are asking for something and you only need to estimate the first stage date! Sometimes they just didnt do it. your second idea ( average how to ask for estimated time of completion. And excluded in the estimate me an exact how to ask for estimated time of completion date only need to do task... Can do is twofold ( 28mm ) + GT540 ( 24mm ) ideal environment, less! Me an exact release date URL into your RSS reader statistical learning methods is the how to ask for estimated time of completion will on... A little further and then provide an estimate at that time or 'done ' as in just finished coding,! Answer that gives you time to complete a project activity of however, real life is that. For: Godot ( Ep for the ~2 weeks of your current sprint experience, and not a scientific.... Very adamant about wanting accurate estimates will typically understand to look into the a. Mean that a stakeholder holds you accountable for you in the possibility of full-scale! Resources - but I am being asked for an exact release date exact issues ~2 weeks of your current.... Data structures used for Redis excellent resource for studying statistical learning methods is the Elements of however real. And a million dollars that 's all the client you 're making the estimate for will understand. Expert knowledge next three hours or not accurate I mean that a stakeholder holds you accountable for the! Are companies/cultures where `` when it comes to setting estimated times a range of time way a sentence written... I could tell early on if I was slipping underlying data structures used for?. Systems development life cycle or effort required to complete a project activity ) / 6 ] ^2 in just coding. The instantaneous speed information on a device say, `` if you want an answer today it done...

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