One of my favourite topics is how to estimate for digital projects. I’m not entirely sure why I love this topic so much, but I think it has something to do with how I believe estimates can be made more and more accurate using certain techniques and how I think people have a talent for it.
I’ll often spot a poor estimator when they say something like, “I’m just nipping to the shops; I’ll be five minutes.” Rather than let this comment pass in my head like a normal human being, the digital project manager and estimator in me think, “No, you won’t be five minutes!” I then automatically run through the sequence of what it takes to “nip to the shop” For example, grab phone and keys, walk downstairs, get in the car, start the car, drive to shops, park, walk to the shop, find item wanted, walk to tills, queue, pay, walk back to the car, leave the car park and drive home.
This five-minute shopping trip is definitely going to take at least twenty-five minutes – FACT!
I know, I know – this is not normal but it’s how someone who does a lot of estimating thinks!
So when I was asked by Float to write an article on estimating digital projects, I was all in.
In the article, I first look at what digital project estimation is and its purpose. I then describe different types of estimates, such as top-down, bottom-up, three-point, planning poker etc. I then tackle the thorny subject of the best estimation type, finishing with eight steps for effective digital project estimation.
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