It is very difficult to make a vigorous, plausible, and…
“It is very difficult to make a vigorous, plausible, and job-risking defense of an estimate that is derived by no quantitative method, supported by little data, and certified chiefly by the hunches of the managers”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Defending an estimate lacking data and quantitative backing is hard and risky because it rests on intuition rather than evidence.
In simple terms: Hard to defend estimates without data.
Key Takeaway
Rely on data, avoid guesswork.
Themes
risk
estimation
decisionmaking
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
advisory
technical
When to use this quote
- project planning
- budget negotiations
- resource allocation
- stakeholder communication
Key Concepts
statistics
probability
management theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you improve estimate credibility?
- When is intuition acceptable?
A Different Perspective
Quantitative methods may be unavailable, limiting precision.