Unlocking Agile Estimation: The Power of Planning Poker
Agile development teams face numerous challenges when estimating the effort required to complete tasks. The lack of shared knowledge, influence of dominant team members, and failure to capture essential details can lead to inaccurate estimates. To overcome these hurdles, James Grenning created Planning Poker in 2002. This innovative approach has since become a cornerstone of agile estimation.
What is Planning Poker?
Planning Poker is a collaborative estimation technique used by agile teams to gauge the effort required to complete tasks. It involves a deck of cards with numbers following the Fibonacci sequence (0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…). Each team member receives a set of cards, and after discussing a task, they simultaneously reveal their estimated effort by playing a card.
Why Use the Fibonacci Sequence?
The Fibonacci sequence allows for a more nuanced estimation process. As the numbers increase, so does the complexity of the work. This non-linear progression enables teams to better capture the intricacies of a task and avoid oversimplification. For example, adding a single line to a shopping basket might be a 1, but redesigning the entire basket could jump to an 8.
How Does Planning Poker Work?
Before starting a planning session, each team member receives a full deck of cards. When a task is presented, the team discusses it, and then each member plays a card representing their estimated effort. The cards are revealed simultaneously to prevent influence from dominant team members. If the estimates vary significantly, the team discusses the reasons behind the differences, sharing knowledge and insights to reach a consensus.
Interpreting the Scores
After completing Planning Poker for multiple tasks, the team reviews the scores to determine which tasks can be completed within the next work period. By averaging their historical performance, the team can estimate their capacity for the upcoming period. This enables them to prioritize tasks and create a realistic plan.
When to Use Planning Poker
Planning Poker is applicable to any process requiring effort estimation, not just software development. It can be used to estimate the work required for home renovations, office moves, or any other project. Whenever you need a rough idea of the complexity involved, Planning Poker can help.
Limitations and Benefits
While Planning Poker addresses many estimation challenges, it’s not perfect. Teams may still miss important information or shift their frame of reference over time. However, Planning Poker provides a more accurate estimate than traditional methods and encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and adaptability.
By adopting Planning Poker, agile teams can improve their estimation accuracy, reduce uncertainty, and deliver products more effectively.