Planning Poker

Definition

Planning poker is a collaborative estimation technique used in Agile project management to estimate the effort or complexity of tasks within a sprint. It combines expert opinion, analogy, and consensus, allowing team members to contribute their insights while promoting discussion and reducing bias in the estimation process. This technique ensures that all voices are heard and fosters a sense of teamwork among members.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Planning poker typically uses a deck of cards with values representing effort or complexity, often based on the Fibonacci sequence.
2. The process involves each team member selecting a card privately, then revealing their estimates simultaneously to avoid influence from others.
3. After revealing estimates, team members discuss their reasoning behind their choices, which helps clarify understanding and align perspectives.
4. This method encourages participation from all team members, as it values diverse opinions and expertise during the estimation process.
5. Planning poker can improve accuracy in estimating tasks by highlighting discrepancies in understanding among team members.

Review Questions

• How does planning poker facilitate teamwork during sprint planning?
  • Planning poker encourages teamwork by allowing all team members to participate equally in the estimation process. Each person shares their perspective without influence from others until estimates are revealed simultaneously. This openness fosters discussion, clarifies misunderstandings, and builds consensus, making everyone feel valued and heard during sprint planning.
• What are the advantages of using planning poker over traditional estimation techniques in Agile methodologies?
  • Using planning poker offers several advantages over traditional estimation techniques. It minimizes bias by having team members estimate independently before discussing their choices. This method also enhances collaboration by promoting dialogue and shared understanding among team members. Furthermore, it leverages diverse expertise within the team, leading to more accurate estimates and a stronger commitment to the sprint goals.
• Evaluate how planning poker impacts the accuracy of task estimation in Agile projects and its implications for project success.
  • Planning poker significantly enhances the accuracy of task estimation by incorporating insights from multiple team members, which helps identify gaps in understanding and differing viewpoints. This collaborative approach ensures that estimates are well-rounded and reflect various perspectives. The improved accuracy directly contributes to project success by enabling better resource allocation, more realistic timelines, and ultimately a higher likelihood of meeting sprint goals effectively.

Related terms

Agile: A methodology that promotes iterative development, collaboration, and flexibility in project management to respond to changing requirements.

User Story: A tool used in Agile to define a feature from the end-user's perspective, focusing on the value delivered to the user.

Scrum: An Agile framework that facilitates incremental product development through defined roles, events, and artifacts.