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estimating-culture.md

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+---
+tags:
+  - estimating
+  - project-management
+---
+# Estimating Culture
+
+The nature of relationships between estimators
+and between estimators and adjacent professions,
+is a difficult concept to navigate
+for an estimator who is purely interested in improving their skills.
+
+## Transparency
+
+Because of the persistent myth of estimate accuracy,
+estimators are highly guarded of their personal processes,
+because detailed analysis of these processes
+would reveal that every one of us is a "bad" estimator.
+
+## Accountability
+
+Estimators have a reputation for causing problems others have to solve.
+
+Because of the nature of the bid process,
+estimators work on projects for a while,
+and then never look at them again until trouble arises.
+Because they are not expected to ever look at their work again,
+they have no incentive to reveal errors
+as they can simply plead ignorance if the error is discovered.
+
+## Collaboration
+
+Estimation is a profession ripe for productive collaboration.
+With intelligent work breakdown, jobs can be cleanly segmented for work in parallel.
+Estimators working in the same room can be an invaluable resource
+for brainstorming ideas and beneficial conversation.
+
+It can be impossible for one estimator to parse the work of another;
+the strategies enjoyed by some may seem counterintuitive to others.
+It is not practical to mandate a single methodology
+for all estimators of a nationwide company,
+nor is it wise to accept all methodologies as equally valid.
+
+Compromising, a small group of estimators with direct communication
+can be expected to develop and maintain a consistent methodology,
+such that any member can independently verify the work of another.
+This is best enforced with an expectation of collaboration on all projects,
+even those that could be done by one person.
+
+## Kaizen
+
+* Be competent with every tool available to you.
+* Always assume there is a better way to complete a given task.
+
+Making estimation more efficient and enjoyable
+requires a unified effort by estimators
+to embrace the statistical aspects of our field.