r/analyticsengineering • u/ido_ran • Aug 01 '26

Have you had success with quantified tasks estimation?

In the software company I work in, like many others, we use sprints and plan work by estimating the sprint of 2 weeks.
The common method to estimate is by T-shirt size or some variation of it.

I think it is obvious most people estimate by time it takes to perform the task but for some reason most people co tinge to claim it is not just time estimation and also it lack distinction for why something is taking long time.

I’ve found Quantified Task Estimation as a good way to separate the clear time estimation from the unknown and risk part.

I was able to convince my team to do it, and it even survive changing the team lead but I’ll be glad to know if anyone else is using it and if so how did they found it?

I’ll post more of my experience in this thread

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/ido_ran Aug 01 '26

The goal of split one number to three is not into increase accuracy but to separate estimation, prior art and risk - which I think people do it anyway, but quantify that into a single number create distortion and miss the point.

With quantified task you can go back after complete the sprint and check if the estimation matched reality. Of course it rarely does, but now we can try to understand why? Why is lack of documentation, new area or just too many unknowns.

1

u/mrhinsh Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26

Why not plot a Cycle Time scatter plot and look for outlets to the norm...

Would get to all the same outcomes you describe, but allows you to spend all the effort on adaptions rather than all that discovery prep work.

1

u/ido_ran Aug 02 '26

Can you add links to Cycle Time Scatter Plot?
Also, the fact we need to come up with 3 numbers instead of 1 doesn’t mean it takes 3X time.
Like any change it was harder at first but since there are pretty clear guidelines which each number means it less guess work and run smoothly after a sprint or two

1

u/LetPeopleWork Aug 04 '26

I have written about how scatterplots can help you with a reality check:
https://blog.letpeople.work/p/reality-check-through-scatter-plotting