Always Multiply Your Estimates by π (2013)

I have broader issues with estimates and deadlines but when pushed i follow a general rule.

If the problem is not some trivial configuration or otherwise mundane change I measure it in weekly units. With weekly units it's unlikely for you to have a blow out of more than 50% with out clearly seeing it coming whereas when you say it'll take a day or two you can so easily have a blow out of 100-200%.

At a former job when I had some organizational influence, we started doing this and called them “team weeks.” My goal was to sell the week x team model to avoid constant streaming of tiny straggling tasks. (It was an agency.)

I think the model works, but didn’t totally match that agency. It’s a good theory though