How to Account for Dependencies in Software Project Estimates

Ever estimate a task for 2 days...
…and ship it 2 weeks later?

You probably missed a dependency.

Not just you.
Every Agile team does it, because most planning sessions focus on the task in isolation.

Not on what it depends on.

❌Another team’s microservice
❌A delayed API update
❌A manual signoff sitting in someone’s inbox

These invisible blockers blow up your sprint, crush trust with stakeholders, and leave your roadmap looking like fiction.

So what can you do?

Here’s the playbook we break down in the full article:
✅ Use 3-point estimates to bake in realistic buffers
✅ Split shared work into dedicated stories—don’t double-count
✅ Flag external dependencies early, and reassign where possible
✅ Reorganize into cross-functional teams to eliminate handoffs
✅ Use Rally that surface risks before they derail you

Pro tip: Treat dependencies like red flags, not just hurdles to manage.

Read the full breakdown here: https://www.rallybetter.com/blog/how-to-account-for-dependencies-in-software-project-estimates/?utm_source=dev_to&utm_medium=rally_social