This document discusses project estimation and provides tips for improving the estimation process. It recommends identifying risks and unknowns rather than providing an immediate estimate. Using story points and historical data can help create more accurate estimates. Regular debriefs allow teams to reflect on past estimates and improve their process over time. The overall message is to stop guessing and start a more rigorous estimating approach to avoid missed deadlines and other problems.

1. ALBERT WANG | DEVELOPER | ATLASSIAN
The Secret to Nailing Project
Estimations
Eliminating the stress of deadlines

2. Stop guessing.
Start estimating.
ALBERT WANG

3. Quick exercise:
Give me an estimation for the following task

5. < 1 day
How long will it take to move the button?
Up to a week Up to a month Up to a year?!

6. < 1 day
Hands up for:

7. Up to a week
Hands up for:

8. Up to a month
Hands up for:

9. Up to a year?!
Hands up for:

11. You get sick
Unknowns

12. Mobile users
Unknowns You get sick

13. Mobile users
How-to videos
You get sick
Unknowns

14. Push back other priorities Create technical debt
Lower quality
Work overtime
Increase costDeliver less functionality
STRESS
Disappoint stakeholders
Low team morale

15. How we
started
estimating
Fight optimism
Use tools
Lean on data
Debrief
We are optimistic by nature.
Never give an immediate answer.
Identify risks and unknowns.

16. How we
started
estimating
Fight optimism
Use tools
Lean on data
Debrief

17. STORY POINTS
Story point Description
1 Simple task, do-able in a single day, e.g. changing some text.
2
Well defined story, no unknowns, e.g. some feature plus testing for it. Might take a
few days
3
Complex, some unknowns, could have hidden obstacles. Team is confident its do-
able within a week.
5
Lots of unknowns or highly complex, may need to be broken down, otherwise the
entire story could take over a week.

21. How we
started
estimating
Fight optimism
Use tools
Lean on data
Debrief

24. How we
started
estimating
Fight optimism
Use tools
Lean on data
Debrief
ReflectGrow
Try
Learn

25. Stop guessing.
Start estimating.
ALBERT WANG

26. Stop giving an immediate answer
Start adding story points to your tasks
Reflect on your estimation

27. Thanks!
ALBERT WANG | DEVELOPER | ATLASSIAN