The Most Underestimated Factor in Estimation

Overview
Communication quality is often overlooked in project estimation. Poor or unclear communication can lead to misunderstandings, rework, and extended timelines, making estimates inaccurate. This article explains why communication should be a core metric in estimation practices and offers practical steps to assess and improve it.

Key Takeaways

• Communication quality directly impacts estimation accuracy.
• Assess communication health with simple metrics (clarity, frequency, feedback loops).
• Incorporate communication risk buffers into estimates.
• Foster a culture of transparent, frequent dialogue to reduce hidden delays.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers and tech leads.
• Product owners and project managers.
• Scrum masters and agile coaches.
• Any technical leader responsible for delivery timelines.

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Agile estimation techniques (Planning Poker, T-Shirt sizing).
• Lean waste identification (communication waste).
• Continuous improvement retrospectives.