Scrum Poker Estimation Technique
Create a free Scrum Poker session In the dynamic world of Agile development, efficiency is essential. Every sprint counts, and accurate estimations are crucial to meeting schedule requirements. The Scrum Poker is one of the most used techniques for Agile Estimation. Check out what makes this method so effective and how it can impact your team's workflow.
What is the Scrum Poker agile estimation technique
Scrum Poker is a meeting between co-workers, each armed with a deck of cards. But these aren't your typical playing cards; they have numbers representing the estimated effort required to complete a task.
During a Scrum Poker session, the team gathers to estimate the effort required for each item on the backlog. Instead of lengthy discussions or arbitrary numbers, team members simultaneously reveal their chosen card, signaling their estimate.
This agile estimation technique fosters a dynamic environment by considering opinions and sharing insights, leading to consensus-driven decision-making.
Why use the Scrum Poker agile estimation technique
The beauty of Scrum Poker lies in the team's collective wisdom since it encourages active participation and ensures that every voice is heard. This not only leads to more accurate estimations but also cultivates a sense of ownership and connection among team members.
Scrum Poker also promotes efficiency by quickly reaching a consensus and moving forward with confidence, maximizing productivity, and minimizing delays.
The most compelling reason to embrace Scrum Poker is its ability to foster continuous improvement. Through regular reflection and refinement, teams can hone their estimation skills, leading to greater predictability and better outcomes in the future.
How to use the Scrum Poker agile estimation technique
Here's a step-by-step guide to get you started with Scrum Poker:
- Preparation: Gather your team and ensure everyone is familiar with the backlog items to be estimated.
- Deck Creation: Pick a deck of cards with a range of values representing the effort required to complete each task.
- Estimation Session: Select a backlog item and present it to the team. Each team member then selects a card from their deck representing their estimate.
- Reveal and Discuss: Once everyone has chosen a card, simultaneously reveal them. Discuss any disparities and insights that arise, aiming to reach a consensus.
- Repeat: Continue this process for each backlog item, refining estimates as needed. Remember, the goal is not perfection but continuous improvement.
Alternative agile estimation techniques
The key to successful agile estimation sessions is finding the best technique for your team or project. Therefore, you may also want to check out the Fibonacci and T-Shirt Sizing techniques and pick the most suitable estimation poker deck for you!
Online Scrum Poker Tool
By embracing the principles of transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement, Scrum Poker helps teams achieve greater accuracy and efficiency in their Agile Estimations.
An online tool such as PlanITPoker aligns perfectly with these principles and enhances the effectiveness of this technique, providing features like:
- Decks that you can customize further to fit your needs
- Automatically calculates the average effort estimated
- Allows you to set a final estimate based on consensus
- Charts with the distribution of votes
- Quick access to your previous sessions
- and much more!
Ready to apply Scrum Poker on your next estimation session? Try PlanITPoker for free!