The bit where it broke down for me was where they initially make the (great) point that agile falls down where small story points for simple tasks (which is accurate) are added to large story points for complex tasks (which is much less accurate), leading to a net inaccurate estimate. So the take away is to break down complex tasks.
Then they introduce queues, which are made up of small tasks.
I admit I stopped reading at this point. Is the useful thing the queue, or the fact everything is now broken down into small tasks?
> Is the useful thing the queue, or the fact everything is now broken down into small tasks?
Yes. :-)
There are numerous benefits to both that are explained in more detail.
The short version is that the small tasks will give you a more accurate rate of progress. The exercise to break things down that way will benefit the entire team's communication and understanding of the problem. Writing them down will keep a record in place for new developers who join where a point measure wouldn't provide any real context.
The queue gives you a clearer picture of job sizing that can be measured and naturally changes with scope changes. It gives you a leading indicator of additional complications so that you can pivot earlier in the process if needed.
Awareness of variability amplification from the queuing process also makes people conscious of flow control of work, as well as the extreme negative consequences that happen when that work is over-scheduled.
I'll admit to still not quite understanding the queue part in concrete terms, I'll go back and read the article fully, but it still sounds like a queue is a series of small tasks which are added together?
Yea. I’m using his terminology but a queue here is just like a queue anywhere else in programming. Its an ordered list of work to be done. Really not any different from a backlog.
He’s using queue more specifically because he’s also referencing Queuing Theory so it keeps the terminology consistent.
Then they introduce queues, which are made up of small tasks.
I admit I stopped reading at this point. Is the useful thing the queue, or the fact everything is now broken down into small tasks?