Data Quote by Fred Brooks
“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
Source Book: The Mythical Man-Month, 1975
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.
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