The term is generally used by financial, technical professionals and project managers to describe a solid assumption of a numeric target. It is far more than a guess or even a good guess. One is attempting to accurately estimate a number associated with for example a budget or time requirement using the available limited data or in the worse case no data.
If the individual offering the SWAG projection is well recognized and qualified in his area of expertise and he is offering it within that expertise, the likelihood that the SWAG will be taken seriously is high, especially if he has a proven track record.
Someone when challenged on where he came up with his numbers says "well its a SWAG" and he lacks the credentials to support it, is not likely to be taken seriously. In other word, some people use SWAG as a casual term instead of saying I guess.
If the individual offering the SWAG projection is well recognized and qualified in his area of expertise and he is offering it within that expertise, the likelihood that the SWAG will be taken seriously is high, especially if he has a proven track record.
Someone when challenged on where he came up with his numbers says "well its a SWAG" and he lacks the credentials to support it, is not likely to be taken seriously. In other word, some people use SWAG as a casual term instead of saying I guess.
When challenged to project the budget for a project whose concept is new to the organization, a scientific-wild-ass guess (SWAG) may be the only means of generating a realistic set of numbers. Consult experts in the various areas that may be involved. Example: A new product that has a market pull but has no material, manufacturing processes or facilities but needs to be brought on line within a set period of time, will by necessity require some SWAG. Having a SWAG number helps to provide guidance even if it is not totally accurate. It is far better than having an open checkbook.
by nyma72 December 26, 2013
Get the scientific-wild-ass guess mug.Although Skin Failure is not a condition recognized by any "legitimate" medical association, many scienticians believe it to be a leading cause of death among the elderly.
by Michael T. Lynch Jr., Scientician October 12, 2003
Get the Scientician mug.Let's circulate rumours saying it's been scientifically proven that bobbittizing one's self leads to better sex.
by ragamuffin318 October 31, 2009
Get the Scientifically Proven mug.A 2 step process of learning and understanding about the world.
I order to begin the process you need a question.
Once you have answers to seek begin the process.
Step 1: fuck around
Step 2: find out
Repeat as many times as necessary.
I order to begin the process you need a question.
Once you have answers to seek begin the process.
Step 1: fuck around
Step 2: find out
Repeat as many times as necessary.
"hey man, do you think the boys are gonna be on Playstation tonight?"
"only way to know is to use the scientific method."
"only way to know is to use the scientific method."
by TheboysinCS October 3, 2020
Get the Scientific method mug.An adjective used to describe the sinister fashions, trends or sayings perpetuated by "scene" or "plastic" people. All the crap pop culture tries to sell us on.
Biggs: Have you seen Terra's new hat?
Wedge: Yeah, that's some scenister shit, bro.
She replied with a scenister remark, showing how obviously vapid and unoriginal she was.
Wedge: Yeah, that's some scenister shit, bro.
She replied with a scenister remark, showing how obviously vapid and unoriginal she was.
by Patrick E. Parker May 9, 2008
Get the Scenister mug.A method for gathering data about the world around us. Using the scientific method involves coming up with a hypothesis about how something works, and then trying as hard as you can to prove it wrong. If you can't prove yourself wrong then you cannot say you proved yourself right. you can only say you didn't disprove your hypothesis. In the scientific method you can never prove yourself right, you can only prove you weren't wrong. This is often seen as a tedious and annoying aspect of science by outsiders, but in fact scientific minded individuals gain great joy in being skeptical of everything. If you cannot diprove your hypothesis than it is usually phrased something like "The data supported our hypothesis." This is generally followed by a detailed explanation of everything that could have been wrong with your research that could have led to a failure to disprove yourself. Through this method something can become considered a theory only if many many generations of scientists have failed to find any way to prove the hypothesis wrong. This is a considerable accomplishment as most scientists will spend their entire lives finding critiques in method or theory in the research of others, and trying to find a way to disprove their findings. Information acquired in this way is the only information that can be trusted to have any semblance of truth.
Did you hear about how video games make children violent?
Was the scientific method used to reach this conclusion?
Hey a recent study found that fake sweetener can give you cancer.
That study was never replicated.
Evolution is just a theory.
If by theory you mean a conclusion that genarations of researchers have failed to find any way to disprove in hundreds of years time then yes it is.
Was the scientific method used to reach this conclusion?
Hey a recent study found that fake sweetener can give you cancer.
That study was never replicated.
Evolution is just a theory.
If by theory you mean a conclusion that genarations of researchers have failed to find any way to disprove in hundreds of years time then yes it is.
by pandorlla May 27, 2010
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