Estimation & forecasting team session

Before the session

Read Days 41, 46 and 50 (about five minutes each), or Module 5 on the cheat sheet.

The 30 minutes

1. 0–5 minOpen

   Quick round: the last date you gave, and did it hold?

2. 5–15 minDiscuss three days
   • Day 41: Estimates are guesses.Which of the usual reasons for missed estimates bit us last time: hidden work, interruptions, anchoring or something else?
   • Day 46: A range, not a promise.What would change if we gave our next date as a range with a confidence level?
   • Day 50: Bad news early.When did we last sit on bad news about a date, and what did the delay cost us?
3. 15–25 minExercise: Find the missing work

   Pick one piece of work that took longer than estimated. List everything that went into it that wasn't in the estimate: reviews, testing, support, leave, waiting. Tally which kinds come up most.

4. 25–30 minAction for the week

   The team counts how many items it finished each week, for as many recent weeks as it can find.

   Agree the team rule: “Ranges, reasons, regular updates. Bad news early.”