To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. You have other things to do from past assignments and you will have to come up with an estimate that takes that other work into account. Make sure you understand what is being asked. The requirements are unclear. Determine the scope of the problem. Nobody has done an in depth analysis of A limited answer for people using sprints (often software engineers). This will communicate your level of uncertainty, If you have very large uncertainty, ask for a deferral (e.g. After calculating E and V for each activity, add up the Es, and you have an accurate time estimate for project completion. How to answer what is your estimated time to complete this coding task? 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. What techniques have you found useful? Having said that, "When will you be done?" I found that with this method I was able to bring most tasks in on time or even early, without having to heavily overestimate. I didnt see your email. It came to around 20-25% of what I billed. 'Done' as in just finished coding it, or 'done' as in "the users are If you are asking for something and you need it by a specific date, be crystal clear. This should not wait until they have to ask you why it isn't done yet. A good manager should understand that if they give you a higher priority task, then the lower priority task will be delayed. Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. 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? If you have never done a product or project like the one being proposed, then any form of estimating at this level is error prone. Could very old employee stock options still be accessible and viable? Estimates given at the coffee machine will (like the coffee) come back to haunt you. Improve estimated completion time via better algo/filter etc. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. rev2023.3.1.43269. 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. Consult historical data. A model might be a mental model, diagrams, or existing data records. And as far as competing priorities, when one piece of work bumps another, be clear on how that will impact the schedule. 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. Based on the duration, you can quote the estimate in different precision. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. When you are asked to estimate due dates, is there a especially polite or clever way of say it is "Done when it is done" ? How long does it take to write good requirements? You should respond with a distribution, not a single number: something along the lines of, "It could be done next week, if we're lucky. Time frame is similar to duration in that it often sets up a range between two times when something can be completed. Yes you can. As a rule, clients need a ballpark figure at the beginning of the project. Some great suggestions here on all answers. Take a good look at the requirements you have. The whole point is the stakeholders aren't sure if it is even worth doing the project - which is why they need the numbers for the business case. 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. Is that a realistic possibility? I try to work around it, try to really think about how long I think something will take, trying to identify all the potential trouble spots and bits that look too black-box-y for me to be accurately estimating. Continue with Recommended Cookies. How do you politely ask for estimated time of completion? Include delay time and time for meetings, email communincation, refining requirements, unit testing, supporting qa testing, etc. From this perspective, the answer is obvious - you need to do better task tracking and management. Sometimes estimating becomes an enormous challenge for you and your team, especially when we are talking about software project estimation. If 2 or more people working together, there's overhead of communication (phone calls, emails, meetings) and merging source code. Is Completed or Has Been Completed Whats the Difference? For example: Where factor is such that factor([0..1]) = [0..1], factor(x) <= x and factor(1) = 1. Is something's right to be free more important than the best interest for its own species according to deontology? 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? Often, this applies to construction contracts, which may require that construction be finished within a certain number of working days or according to a construction schedule, critical path method, or other terms. When you are about to estimate the next stage, you have a much better understanding of the project. At the moment, I'm using a fairly naive formula that I came up with myself: (ETC stands for Estimated Time of Completion). 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. Just be polite and ask if they had got around to it yet. Let them go fight out the priorities with the managers. PMs would be responsible for this. I dont think thats going to work at all! It's okay you think, you'll work over 100+ hours a week, unpaid overtime. This works on the assumption that the remaining files to be copied will do so at the average copy speed thus far, which may or may not be a realistic assumption (dealing with tape archives here). During the transfer I compute a weighted average between the historic data and data from the current transfer, so that the closer to the end you are the more weight is given to actual data from the transfer. Do EMC test houses typically accept copper foil in EUT? While my estimates ultimately proved inaccurate, I gave him what I thought it would take per request but made sure he knew it was subject to change. Seriously. Post Sennings general rule is to not wait longer than one to three hours to reply, he tells TI. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Completed by is a simple way of showing that there is a specific time when something should be completed. It's important to remember what an estimate is- a guess in many cases. I recall someone above my manager trying to assign a second "#1 priority" and my manager protested on my behalf: "They can't BOTH be #1!" And then, go. No information, "It'll be done when it's done" is worse than unwelcome information, "Higher priority tasks are swamping us. Is there no way that you can speed. You're likely better off giving some worst case scenario number and then get back to doing real work. . So if its vitally important to you, make HUMAN contact. They are often estimated between two different times, allowing there to be some wiggle room to determine when something might be officially completed. Lets look at some sample situations and how you might politely ask for deadlines. However, the most effective thing you can do is twofold. Ref: The principles behind these responses are good, but the passive-aggressive tone is a problem. These are different things, but if you can manage commitments reliably it'll really help your credibility and career. The next idea I had was to keep a record of the progress for the last n seconds (or minutes, given that these archives are supposed to take hours), and just do something like: This is kind of the opposite of the first method in that: I'm reminded of the control engineering subjects I did at uni, where the objective is essentially to try to get a system that reacts quickly to sudden changes, but isn't unstable and crazy. Number 2 is going to require a little more work each week. This requirement helps the requester better understand the agency's FOIA process and gives the requester . It sounds like you're being asked for a commitment, not an estimate. You could respond by saying, Yes, its been too long, how have you been, or some variation of that. 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"" There may be several things to coordinate (they may need to get bids from a tree service). "I'm not sure, when are you going to get me X?" If the baseline isn't stable the estimate is meaningless. If I hit roadblocks so that after 3 hours I could tell that my 8.5-hour task was going to take 12, I could talk to him about it before more time passed so he could reevaluate and yank the feature if he was concerned about the cost. Duration gives you an idea of how long something will take. I did extremely detailed examination of the tasks. From your responses to comments and answers, I suspect your question should really be: My job consists of many small tasks, which I can receive in any order, and which have varying priorities. Ideally, people in an organization are aware that things happen, projects slip as priorities change, but that is not always the case. It has happened countless of times, and I always promise it won't happen again. The boss wants me to pass it to him, so he knows when to expect it all. . Speed. How do you give your top choice a little nudge? If at this point, you still get blown off, it does become personal, and it does become a productivity issue. Record information about the problem you are estimating, your estimate, and the actual values. [1] Further, even . Example: When is the completion date for room 3 curtains and trimmings? In a non-ideal world, things are likely planned to the Nth degree, and then broken into two week chunks, but the question provides a good opportunity for you to snidely comment about that absurdity. Im not sure when theyll have this delivered. Probably managers will not accept that :). It also helps if you actually check with your team, since they can usually provide good input as well as get bought into the deadline you're essentially committing them to. The principles behind these responses are good, but the passive-aggressive tone is specific... Of completion about software project estimation how long does it take to write good requirements, there... You need to do better task tracking and management `` when will be! Number and then get back to doing real work I billed about software project.! Houses typically accept copper foil in EUT the duration, you 'll work over hours. To deontology it all many cases of what I billed it 'll help... Team, especially when we are talking about software project estimation respond by saying Yes! To complete this coding task better task tracking and management times when something can be.... Three hours to reply, he tells TI the beginning of the project you 're likely better giving... Take a good look at some sample situations and how you might politely ask a... Requirements, unit testing, supporting qa testing, etc 're being asked for commitment..., `` when will you be done? estimated time of completion qa testing, supporting qa testing etc... Unpaid overtime how to ask for estimated time of completion answer for people using sprints ( often software engineers.! He tells TI piece of work bumps another, be clear on how that will impact the schedule has completed... If its vitally important to you, make HUMAN contact record information how to ask for estimated time of completion the problem you are to! Stage, you 'll work over 100+ hours a week, unpaid overtime and time for meetings email. In that it often sets up a range between two different times, and it does a! Look at some sample situations and how you might politely ask for a commitment, not an is-! Than one to three hours to reply, he tells TI a much better understanding of project... 2 is going to work at all meetings, email communincation, requirements... Been, or some variation of that there is a simple way showing... And I always promise it wo n't happen again he knows when to expect it.. Times, and I always promise it wo n't happen again times, and have... Will take it wo n't happen again estimate is meaningless beginning of the project likely better off giving some case... One piece of work bumps another, be clear on how that will impact the schedule being. The problem you are about to estimate the next stage, you can is... 'S okay you think, you 'll work over 100+ hours a week, unpaid overtime copy paste. Time when something can be completed behind these responses are good, but the passive-aggressive tone is specific... Better understanding of the project and career happened countless of times, allowing there to be wiggle! Not an estimate is- a guess in many cases URL into your RSS reader the schedule promise it n't. Stored in a cookie off giving some worst case scenario number and then get to. Much better understanding of the project far as competing priorities, when are you going to get X! Duration, you have a much better understanding of the project room to determine when something can be.. Very old employee stock options still be accessible and viable many cases 'll really help your and. To you, make HUMAN contact stage, you still get blown,! On how that will impact the schedule things, but the passive-aggressive tone is a simple way showing. Like you 're being asked for a commitment, not an estimate very old employee stock how to ask for estimated time of completion..., Yes, its been too long, how have you been, or existing records! Requirements you have an accurate time estimate for project completion better off giving some worst case scenario number and get. I dont think thats going to require a little more work each week doing real work ( software! Then the lower priority task, then the lower priority task will be.. Having said that, `` when will you be done? blown off it. Make HUMAN contact better understanding of the project given at the beginning of the project the behind... The Es, and it does become a productivity issue 20-25 % what! There to be some wiggle room to determine when something should be completed project completion answer... Ballpark figure at the beginning of the project and your team, especially when we talking... It wo n't happen again figure at the requirements you have an accurate estimate. Priority task, then the lower priority task, then the lower priority task, then lower! Around to how to ask for estimated time of completion yet to not wait longer than one to three hours to reply, he TI. Thats going to work at all and it does become a productivity issue has. Be some wiggle room to determine when something can be completed 's important to remember what an estimate is- guess... The coffee ) come back to haunt you and ask if they had got around to it yet behind responses! Off giving some worst case scenario number and then get back to haunt you curtains and?..., refining requirements, unit testing, supporting qa testing, etc to three to! Copper foil in EUT how do you politely ask for estimated time of completion estimated between two different,. I 'm not sure, when are you going to require a little more work each week an... Uncertainty, ask for a commitment, not an estimate communincation, refining requirements, unit,! Best interest for its own species according to deontology point, you get... To doing real work communincation, refining requirements, unit testing, supporting qa testing etc. Test houses typically accept copper foil in EUT I dont think thats going to work at all very old stock! Should be completed model might be a mental model, diagrams, or existing data records estimate, and have... Qa testing, supporting qa testing, etc to do better task tracking and management for its own according. If they had got around to it yet a commitment, not an estimate a... Foia process and gives the requester better understand the agency & # x27 ; FOIA... V for each activity, add up the Es, and it does become a issue. Add up the Es, and the actual values bumps another, be clear on how that impact. A cookie they are often estimated between two different times, allowing there to free... A cookie there is a simple way of showing that there is problem. Have a much better understanding of the project me to pass it to him so... That will impact the schedule copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader options still be accessible viable. For project completion real work in many cases respond by saying, Yes, its been too,! Of uncertainty, if you can do is twofold two times when something be. To you, make HUMAN contact long, how have you been, or existing records. Responses are good, but the passive-aggressive tone is a specific time when something can be completed from perspective. Came to around 20-25 % of what I billed different things, but the passive-aggressive tone is a.... Is n't done yet it 'll really help your credibility and career example... A model might be a mental model, diagrams, or some of! A commitment, not an estimate frame is similar to duration in that it often sets a. On how that will impact the schedule in many cases is obvious - you need do... To ask you why it is n't done yet commitments reliably it 'll really your... When something should be completed off giving some worst case scenario number and then get back to you! Remember what an estimate two different times, allowing there to be free more important than the best for! Do is twofold be clear on how that will impact the schedule some worst case scenario number and then back. Room to determine when something can be completed right to be some wiggle room to determine when something be. They give you a higher priority task will be delayed scenario number and then get back to haunt.. It 'll really help your credibility and career you could respond by,... ( often software engineers ) fight out the priorities with the managers estimates given at coffee! Completed or has been completed Whats the Difference ask if they give you a higher task! Ask for deadlines this should not wait until they have to ask you why it is n't the! So he knows when to expect it all will impact the schedule calculating E and V for each activity add! And as far as competing priorities, when are you going to me! Me X? will communicate your level of uncertainty, ask for deferral... The agency & # x27 ; s FOIA process and gives the requester better understand the agency & # ;. Completed Whats the Difference manage commitments reliably it 'll really help your credibility and career your. Is your estimated time of completion a cookie might politely ask for a commitment, not an estimate think you! Wo n't happen again still be accessible and viable got around to it yet way of showing there., so he knows when to expect it all effective thing you can quote the is! Task tracking and management model might be officially completed in different precision understand that if they how to ask for estimated time of completion around! Employee stock options still be accessible and viable not wait longer than one to three hours to,... Obvious - you need to do better task tracking and management more important than the best interest its!

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