Find Out What NOT to Do When Estimating Project Size!
As a Product Owner, it can be tempting to estimate a project's size and make promises to a business unit to meet their demands. However, doing so can have detrimental effects on the development team's ability to deliver quality work.
Here are some reasons why a Product Owner should avoid estimating a project's size and making unrealistic promises:
Estimating project size is challenging
Estimating a project's size is a complex process that requires a deep understanding of the product, its users, and the development team's capabilities. Even with the most accurate estimates, there is always a risk of unforeseen obstacles that can impact the project's timeline and scope.
Unrealistic promises can cause undue pressure on the dev team
When a Product Owner makes unrealistic promises to a business unit, it puts undue pressure on the development team to deliver the project within a tight timeline. This can lead to burnout and stress among team members, which ultimately affects their ability to produce quality work.
Estimating a project's size can be biased
Estimating a project's size can be influenced by personal biases, assumptions, and expectations. A Product Owner may tend to overestimate or underestimate the project's size, depending on their experience and familiarity with the development process.
Unrealistic promises can lead to a loss of trust
When a Product Owner makes unrealistic promises to a business unit, it can lead to a loss of trust between the development team and the business unit. The team may feel that they are being set up for failure, while the business unit may become frustrated with delays and failures to deliver.
Estimating project size can distract from the development process
Estimating a project's size can be a time-consuming process that distracts from the development process. It can also lead to unnecessary discussions and negotiations that take away from the team's ability to focus on delivering quality work.
Role Alignment
The Product Owner's role represents the product and is usually customer-facing employees, so they may be tempted to make promises on a deadline for a feature, but since they do not represent the team, the Product Owners should avoid estimating a task's impact on hours of teamwork. Developers are the ones in the role that will do the work, so they are best qualified to make an estimate on project task sizes.
In conclusion, a Product Owner should avoid estimating a project's size and making unrealistic promises to a business unit. Instead, they should work collaboratively with the development team to set realistic timelines and goals based on the team's capabilities and capacity. This will help ensure that the team can deliver quality work without undue pressure or stress.
