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Statistics and Probabilities

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Abstract

In this chapter we touch on statistics and probabilities. We will look at a few interesting applications of statistics and will focus on how they affect decision making, because the main purpose of intelligent forecasting is to facilitate decision making and project control.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A chunk can be of any size and is not the same as a user story or a functional specification. A chunk represents a set of functionality which we have decided to estimate together. We will talk about resolution and splitting the whole scope in chunks later. For a large project, a single chunk can represent 3–4 weeks’ worth of work for a single person or a programming pair, and for smaller projects a chunk can comprise 4–5 days’ worth of work.

  2. 2.

    To “act” here means to make it easier for developers to carry out the implementation work. Acting does not mean to pressure developers into speeding up—this is a useless activity from the point of view this book is taking. A scrum master or project manager can help by getting business people to prioritize the work in advance, or by working with PO (Product Owner) or BA (Business Analyst) to simplify existing specifications and requirements, or by getting coffee and cookies, and so on. A developer can help by seeking help or offering help, providing quick feedback, and so on. This is what is meant by “to act.” Everyone should be working together to accomplish activities which help the team move forward expeditiously.

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© 2020 Dimitre Dimitrov

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Dimitrov, D. (2020). Statistics and Probabilities. In: Software Project Estimation. Apress, Berkeley, CA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-5025-9_4

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