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Rough vs Precise Estimates

Unwired Logic is happy to provide estimates that can help guide the Client in budgetary prioritization and planning. When requested Unwired Logic can provide the Client with an estimate for each task/feature/project as requested. Estimates provided by Unwired Logic fall into these two categories:

 

 

Rough Estimate

Precise Estimate

The outcome of a

Task Estimate

The task could take a person:

  • About an hour
  • About a half day’s work
  • About a day’s work
  • Around a few days’ work
  • About a week
  • More than a week

Approximately __ hours

The outcome of a

Project Estimate

The project could take about ___ sprints/weeks/months with a burn rate of around ___ hours per week

A Sprint Table or a Task Breakdown

(see the samples below)

Assumptions

Major assumptions may exist but may not be communicated specifically.

Major assumptions are communicated.

Approximate Accuracy
(assuming no scope change)

~60 to 70%

~75 to 90%

Scope Definition

Somewhat clear but fluid

Well defined and unlikely to change

Most common scenarios

Brainstorming and prioritizing a new project (or feature) or possible scope changes.

When stakeholders want a precise budget and timeline

Effort spent estimating

“Quick & Dirty”

Planned & Thorough

Time spent estimating is...

Not Billed

Billed

 

  • The accuracy greatly depends on if we’ve done it before and it's in a technology where we are very experienced. The decisiveness of the Product Owner is also very critical.
  • Unwired Logic provides an hour estimate but will bill you the actual time working.
  • Unwired Logic is happy to provide at no cost a rough estimate to do a precise estimate.

FAQs

How do I request an estimate?

  • Please direct requests for estimates to your Account Executive.

 

I know how much time this work should take, should I request an estimate?

  • If you know how much time a certain task/project should take, please share your estimate with your Account Executive (AE). If the AE agrees then work will immediately start. If the AE believes the estimate is too high or too low then further clarification will be needed before work begins.

 

How accurate should I expect Unwired Logic's estimates to be?

  • The accuracy of an estimate has to do with many factors of which some are commonly outside of the control of Unwired Logic. You can safely assume that a precise estimate will typically be within 25%.

 

What if your estimate is greater than the time it actually takes?  Do you charge your actual or the estimate?

  • Unless otherwise agreed upon, Unwired Logic bills the actual time it takes. And yes, it is not uncommon to have projects/tasks that are actually billed less than our estimates!

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