Re: Scoping vs Estimating

Subject: Re: Scoping vs Estimating
From: Bill Swallow <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: Tony Markos <ajmarkos -at- yahoo -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2006 14:28:37 -0500

> Scope is a major input to estimating; however, scoping
> out a documentation project (i.e., determining the
> extent of the project) is a different activity than is
> time estimating a doc project.

Agreed. Scoping is qualitative and estimation is quantitative.

> In scoping, the emphasis is on discovering the
> interfaces between the "system" and the "outside
> world" (rigor in IDing interfaces provides for rigor
> in defining the system boundary). Not so during
> estimating.
>
> Estimating is largely about properly chunking the
> system down into right-size and equal-size pieces;
> this is not nearly so with scoping.

I think you're trying to draw a distinction in the wrong place here.
Scoping involves breaking down the "thing" into "thing-ettes". This is
not unique to estimation. Where scoping ends and estimation begins is
where level of effort enterss the equation. LoE is specific to
estimation, where you're tying quantitative metrics to a qualitative
breakdown of a thing (scoping).

> Granted, I am sure that many lump both processes
> together and call the whole thing estimating, but that
> does not change the fact that they are two distinct
> entities. Requirements engineers have seperate tools
> for each.

As do project managers and engineering leads.

> "It is only by dying (i.e., following the flow of
> data) that we are born again (i.e., come to understand
> the underlying logic of a system)." - AJ Markos

I think you're reaching too deep there. ;-)

--
Bill Swallow
HATT List Owner
WWP-Users List Owner
42.8162,-73.7736
http://techcommdood.blogspot.com
============================
I support Char James-Tanny for STC Secretary.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Now Shipping -- WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word! Easily create online
Help. And online anything else. Redesigned interface with a new
project-based workflow. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Doc-To-Help 2005 now has RoboHelp Converter and HTML Source: Author
content and configure Help in MS Word or any HTML editor. No
proprietary editor! *August release. http://www.componentone.com/TECHWRL/DocToHelp2005

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com

To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Follow-Ups:

References:
RE: Resources on estimating documentation projects: From: Johnson, Tom
Scoping vs Estimating: From: Tony Markos

Previous by Author: Re: Scoping a DocumentationProject??
Next by Author: Re: Scoping vs Estimating
Previous by Thread: Scoping vs Estimating
Next by Thread: Re: Scoping vs Estimating


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads