Five-Minute-Task Time Estimate Worksheet - SAMPLE

Below is a completely filled-in sample of the Five-Minute-Task Time Estimate Worksheet

Preliminary Estimate

How long will the five-minute task/project take? 5 minutes

Detailed Worksheet

For each item below, please provide your best estimate for the time required for completion. DO NOT enter zero for any field!
basic changes/development:5 minutes
deal with the compile-time errors you failed to anticipate:2
deal with an obscure compiler error you've never seen before:15
figure out why it dumps core before executing first line of code:15
figure out why it still dumps core, even though you fixed the problem:60
total time of other staff in helping you with previous item:30
completely rewrite it to work around obscure system or compiler bug that could not be solved even with other peoples help:8
deal with additional compile-time errors introduced by rewrite:4
figure out why it dumps core again:10
it seems to work; now fully test all new/changed functionality by hand:10
correct problems found:5
code for obscure error conditions or user input exceptions that you didn't think of until just now:20
add some features that would be easy and relevant that you didn't think of until just now:30
compile again:2
test again:10
write/update program documentation:10
write/update user documentation:10
rewrite documentation that you lost from the power failure:15
install software:5
test the installed version:5
figure out why installed version doesn't work or works differently then before:60
fix install problem:5
install documentation:5
update source control area:5
deal with installed software changes crashing all systems at random intervals:120
total time of other staff in helping you with previous item:240
fix software:30
compile:2
test:10
install:5
deal with innaccurate bug reports from 2 percent* of your userbase:
(*please round up to nearest whole human being)
60
deal with accurate bug reports from 1/2 percent* of your userbase:
(*please round up to nearest whole human being)
30
fix user's legitimate complaints:5
compile:2
test:10
install:5
document the complete redesign that you now realize the system needs, but that you don't have time to do:15

Total of all above answers: 880 minutes

Revised Estimate

How long will the five-minute task/project ACTUALLY take? 14 hours, 40 minutes

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