Category: round number
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Answering via a scale to improve estimation accuracy
The human brain differs from the brain of other animals in having two number processing systems: 1) the approximate number system (present in other animals), and 2) language. Round numbers are often given in answers when using language, to questions having a numeric answer. While use of round numbers may be conversationally appropriate, they decrease…
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Software task estimation using LLMs is fake research
Developers hate having to provide an estimate for the time needed to implement some functionality. Given the extent to which LLMs have become embedded in the software world, offloading the estimation question to an LLM appears to be an obvious solution. The problem is that LLMs are very unlikely to give a meaningful answer. However,…
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Distribution of small project completion times
Records of project estimates and actual task times show that round numbers are very common. Various possible reasons have been suggested for why actual times are often reported as a round number. This post analyses the impact of round number reports of actual times on the accuracy of estimates. The plot below shows the number…
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When task time measurements are not reported by developers
Measurements of the time taken to complete a software development task usually rely on the values reported by the person doing the work. People often give round number answers to numeric questions. This rounding has the effect of shifting start/stop/duration times to 5/10/15/20/30/45/60 minute boundaries. To what extent do developers actually start/stop tasks on round…