[m4l3x]

Interesting article. Our PO often almost demands estimations from us. Usually I am already responding in a best/worst case fashion. In the end PO only seems to remember the best case and takes it as commitment. Since I was fooled by this a few times, I am now collecting a paper trail and am quiet reluctant, when giving "just a ballpark figure". My key takeaway was, that estimations mostly aren't about accuracy or getting a value, but rather managing people's expectations and navigating corporate politics.

[Aromasin]

Agreed. I'm much less liberal with my estimates with external stakeholders than I am with close associates, purely for political reasons. If I say 8 weeks to my team, I'll say 11 to management/others. I get no benefit out of delivering on time, a little for delivery early, and a massive loss by delivering late, so I have 0 incentive to give them an "early" estimate. Under promise and over delivery is corporate strategy 101.