Linear Cycles and Estimation

At Pivot, we organize our work into two-week cycles using Linear. This document outlines how we estimate tasks and manage our workload within these cycles.

Point Estimation System

We use a point system (1/2/3/5/8) to estimate the complexity and effort required for each issue:

• 1 point: Very small task, usually a quick fix or minor improvement
• 2 points: Small task, requires a bit more thought but still straightforward
• 3 points: Medium task, requires some investigation and implementation time
• 5 points: Large task, complex implementation or significant investigation required
• 8 points: Very large task, may require breaking down into smaller issues

Expected Velocity

Engineers at Pivot are expected to complete approximately 50 points per cycle for full-time team members. This breaks down to roughly:

• 25 points per week
• 5 points per working day

For team members working part-time, the expected velocity is adjusted proportionally based on their FTE (full-time equivalent) status. For example, someone working at 50% capacity would be expected to complete approximately 25 points per cycle.

Cycle Planning

Before the Cycle Begins

• Engineers should plan to add almost their full capacity (around 45-50 points) before the first day of the cycle
• Leave some capacity (around 5-10%) for unexpected issues or bugs that might arise

During the Cycle

• Keep track of your velocity throughout the cycle
• If you complete your planned work before the cycle ends, proactively pull appropriate issues from the backlog
• Prioritize issues according to current team goals and project priorities
• Communicate with your team if you're significantly ahead of or behind your planned velocity

Best Practices

• Be realistic about your estimates; it's better to under-promise and over-deliver
• Review your completed points at the end of each cycle to calibrate future estimations
• Consider your other commitments (meetings, interviews, code reviews) when planning your cycle
• Issues requiring significant investigation should have time allocated for that investigation

Following this system helps us maintain a predictable delivery pace while ensuring appropriate workload distribution across the team.