Estimating is one of the more difficult and risky parts of development. A good estimator is valuable, but even more valuable is a team that understands what an estimate is and what an estimate is not.

An estimate is an approximation of the bigness or size of a project; it is not a commitment. I have seen, time and time again, estimates turned into commitments and estimators are then held accountable for their estimates, resulting in long hours for developers, monetary losses for development companies, and angry clients.