Estimation is a critical skill in various fields, particularly in software development and statistics. In software development, estimation involves predicting the time and resources required to complete a task or project. This process can be challenging due to the inherent uncertainties and complexities involved. Developers often rely on their past experiences to make these estimates, but new tasks may not always align with previous patterns, leading to inaccuracies ².

In statistics, estimation refers to the process of inferring the value of a population parameter based on sample data. For example, using the sample mean to estimate the population mean is a common practice. This method is straightforward, but it can be affected by outliers, which may skew the results ³.

Effective estimation requires a clear framework and understanding among team members, including the units of measurement and methods used. Smaller tasks are generally easier to estimate accurately, and breaking down larger tasks into manageable parts can improve the estimation process ⁵.