2025-07-09T12:54:59Z

A linear padding factor is likely to not be enough, since the error accumulation is superlinear (i.e., exponential).

Dorian Taylor

Just pad your estimates. Double, even triple them.

Padding only makes sense for exogenous factors; most of the problems that arise in software development are endogenous.

People do succeed at beating deadlines derived from their effort estimates, so how do they pull it off?

Process Model Issues

The general strategy of adding estimates up from zero means you will always underestimate, and that deficit will grow with the size of the thing you are estimating.