Why “how long will this take?“ is the wrong question to ask

In the realm of product development, the traditional approach of asking teams for exact timelines often leads to inaccurate estimations and unmet expectations due to unbounded scope and uncertainty. Instead, the text advocates for introducing constraints such as time and budget to drive conversations about value, trade-offs, and priorities, thereby improving predictability. By shifting focus from "when will this be done?" to "what can we achieve within these constraints?" teams can engage in more meaningful discussions about what is essential and feasible, treating product planning as a series of bounded experiments rather than a commitment to a full build. This approach not only manages uncertainty more effectively but also encourages learning and adaptation, making it easier to navigate stakeholder demands for timelines by providing informed commitments rather than speculative guesses.