Poker, cakes and T-shirts
Estimating in an agile environment can be challenging – and within a team or project group, there can be significant differences in how tasks are assessed. These discrepancies often arise from different understandings of what the task actually involves.
A clear and precise explanation of each item or task is therefore the foundation for a good estimation process. It is important that all team members are heard and contribute their input, and there are several methods to ensure this.
Once the goal is clear, the estimation process can begin.
Poker Planning
- Each team member has a set of cards with the values 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21 (the first numbers in the Fibonacci sequence), plus ‘split’ (a scissors icon), ‘?’ and optionally ‘∞’.
- The Product Owner describes the functionality of the item to be estimated.
- Each participant selects the card that represents the amount of effort needed to develop the functionality.
- All participants reveal their cards at the same time.
- The estimates are discussed, starting with the people who selected the highest and lowest values (this is also known as the Delphi method). The process is repeated until the group reaches a predefined level of agreement (for example that estimates differ by no more than one step, after which the majority decides).
- Along the way, clarifying questions may arise, requiring the Product Owner to explain the item in more detail, supporting the team’s estimation process.
Cakes
- Instead of the Fibonacci sequence, cards feature different types of cakes, such as biscuit, muffin, loaf cake, layer cake or a full “Sønderjysk coffee table”. Cards for ‘split’, ‘?’ and ‘∞’ are also included.
- Each cake represents a number of story points that indicate the amount of work required for the item.
- The estimation process is carried out as described above.
- Once the item is fully developed, the team celebrates by eating the cake that represented the estimated effort…
T-shirts
A simpler and more high-level estimation method uses T-shirt sizes.
- Each card is marked with a size: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL. Cards for ‘split’, ‘?’ and ‘∞’ should also be part of the set.
- The estimation process follows the same steps as in Poker Planning.
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