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Re: standard time estimates for documentation projects
Subject:Re: standard time estimates for documentation projects From:"Wanda Phillips" <wajasspike -at- infoconex -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 09 Apr 2002 08:35:13 -0700
I like Stan's method. I think I'll use it in the future for all my
projects, writing and other.
In a recent project, I was working with a relatively inexperienced writer
who needed a hand with estimating. She couldn't guess how long something
was going to take her and the guesses she could come up with didn't include
research, edit, and revision.
I created a little spreadsheet for her to use, because she needed to
estimate the project length and produce time estimates to be able to
request editing resources. The formulas in the spreadsheet allowed us to
monkey with the numbers, for example, if she said she could write 2.5 pages
a day, we'd start with that and then estimate the hours editing required
based on who we wanted to have edit and how technical the content would be.
It worked out fairly well to give the writer an idea of the larger picture
and it gave her a tool for prioritizing content development.
I'd never tried to get to the details like that before, I'd used a system
similar to Stan's - guessing and doubling. I know I need to add that last
multiplier, as well!
In the end, nothing ever comes out nice and neat like a formula can make
it. People are involved. Changes happen.
Wanda
from the edge of reality
on the edge of the continent
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