Comments on: Choosing The Task to Fit The Time http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/ Working To Live Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:04:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Harmony http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-925 Harmony Tue, 18 Oct 2005 02:12:07 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/#comment-925 I actually just finished reading a good article on this topic - 'Painless Software Schedules' by Joel on Software: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000245.html It's useful stuff because it allows you to plot a project out from the very start, with every little piece estimated in hours, so if your manager (or client) says "do it faster" you can point to the schedule and say "not possible, but here's a heap of fluff features we can scratch or postpone if you want to pull the release date forward". I actually just finished reading a good article on this topic – ‘Painless Software Schedules’ by Joel on Software: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/.....00245.html

It’s useful stuff because it allows you to plot a project out from the very start, with every little piece estimated in hours, so if your manager (or client) says “do it faster” you can point to the schedule and say “not possible, but here’s a heap of fluff features we can scratch or postpone if you want to pull the release date forward”.

]]> By: Elisa Camahort http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-820 Elisa Camahort Tue, 04 Oct 2005 16:57:24 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/#comment-820 Equally common is when a client thinks of something else they'd like done, and then can't grasp that they either have to increase the budget, or drop a different part of the scope of work to accommodate the new task. The main thing I find is that the "give 'em an inch, they'll take a mile" philosophy is really true, and it takes discipline to stick to what you know is the right quote, the right promise. Equally common is when a client thinks of something else they’d like done, and then can’t grasp that they either have to increase the budget, or drop a different part of the scope of work to accommodate the new task. The main thing I find is that the “give ‘em an inch, they’ll take a mile” philosophy is really true, and it takes discipline to stick to what you know is the right quote, the right promise.

]]> By: Russell http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-803 Russell Fri, 30 Sep 2005 19:22:52 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/#comment-803 This reminds me of the oft-quoted phrase in software development (and something Irepeatedly tell my clients: "Cheap, Fast, or Good. You may choose two." The amazing thing is how often they choose cheap and fast. This reminds me of the oft-quoted phrase in software development (and something Irepeatedly tell my clients: “Cheap, Fast, or Good. You may choose two.” The amazing thing is how often they choose cheap and fast.

]]> By: J Lane http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-802 J Lane Fri, 30 Sep 2005 15:18:54 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/#comment-802 You could always deliver a third of the product with the understanding that the rest will get done in the timeframe you've estimated. What I mean is, depending on the project, you could launch a stripped down, yet functional version to begin with and then build on it. I think the concept of v.1, v.2 is getting lost these days. Why does a project have to be completed in it's entirety right away? Aren't there some functional pieces that can be launched in advance to keep people happy? You could always deliver a third of the product with the understanding that the rest will get done in the timeframe you’ve estimated.

What I mean is, depending on the project, you could launch a stripped down, yet functional version to begin with and then build on it. I think the concept of v.1, v.2 is getting lost these days. Why does a project have to be completed in it’s entirety right away? Aren’t there some functional pieces that can be launched in advance to keep people happy?

]]> By: Randy Murray http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-801 Randy Murray Fri, 30 Sep 2005 13:37:11 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/#comment-801 Well, there are ways to speed up long, complex projects, but they're rarely acceptable to management or the customer. Here's a story, probably an urban legend. A Disney "imagineer" was asked how long it would take to create a new attraction and he quickly replied, "two years." When asked if he could do it quicker he said, "Yes, I could do it in 16 weeks." When asked about the difference he told them, "eliminate all of the reviews, committees, management changes, and other projects on our plate and give me the full budget up front and I can get it done in that time." They, of course, wouldn't do that. I often include a "customer delay" into project estimates, but you know, I never estimate enough time for that. Well, there are ways to speed up long, complex projects, but they’re rarely acceptable to management or the customer.

Here’s a story, probably an urban legend. A Disney “imagineer” was asked how long it would take to create a new attraction and he quickly replied, “two years.” When asked if he could do it quicker he said, “Yes, I could do it in 16 weeks.” When asked about the difference he told them, “eliminate all of the reviews, committees, management changes, and other projects on our plate and give me the full budget up front and I can get it done in that time.”

They, of course, wouldn’t do that. I often include a “customer delay” into project estimates, but you know, I never estimate enough time for that.

]]> By: Marcelo Ruiz http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-800 Marcelo Ruiz Fri, 30 Sep 2005 12:59:55 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/09/choosing-the-task-to-fit-the-time/#comment-800 Excellent article! I have faced that problem exactly a week ago. I had to estimate a project that resulted in a time of 5 months. Obviously the client wanted to kill me!!! He find it hard to belive that... some years ago, for a project like this, I would have estimated 2 months, I would have delayed it a lot and delivered a work full of bugs. It's difficult to trust project management experience for clients. Excellent article! I have faced that problem exactly a week ago. I had to estimate a project that resulted in a time of 5 months. Obviously the client wanted to kill me!!! He find it hard to belive that… some years ago, for a project like this, I would have estimated 2 months, I would have delayed it a lot and delivered a work full of bugs. It’s difficult to trust project management experience for clients.

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