Planning Poker
Planning Poker is an Agile estimation technique where team members assign story points to tasks using playing cards, promoting discussion and consensus on effort estimates.
Planning Poker is an Agile estimation technique where team members assign story points to tasks using playing cards, promoting discussion and consensus on effort estimates.
What Is Planning Poker?
Planning Poker, also known as Scrum Poker, is a collaborative estimation technique used by Agile teams during sprint planning. It helps teams estimate the effort required to complete user stories or tasks, promoting consensus and eliminating bias. With its playful yet effective approach, Planning Poker has become a popular tool for fostering team alignment and improving project planning.
How Planning Poker Works
Planning Poker combines group discussion, individual input, and consensus-building in a simple process:
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Preparation: The Product Owner presents a user story or task from the Product Backlog, ensuring the team understands the requirements and scope.
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Voting Cards: Each team member is given a set of cards with values representing effort or complexity. Common scales include Fibonacci numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13) or T-shirt sizes (e.g., XS, S, M, L, XL).
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Estimation Round: Team members secretly select a card that reflects their estimate for the task. Everyone reveals their cards simultaneously.
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Discussion: If there is significant variation in estimates, the team discusses their reasoning. Members share insights about complexity, risks, and dependencies.
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Re-vote: After the discussion, the team votes again until a consensus is reached.
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Final Estimate: The agreed-upon estimate is recorded, and the process moves to the next item in the backlog.
Why Planning Poker Matters
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Encourages Equal Participation: By having everyone vote simultaneously, Planning Poker ensures all voices are heard, avoiding the dominance of louder team members.
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Promotes Shared Understanding: The discussion phase clarifies assumptions and highlights hidden complexities, leading to better estimates and improved task comprehension.
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Reduces Bias: Anonymous voting minimizes anchoring bias, where team members might otherwise be influenced by the first estimate proposed.
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Enhances Accuracy: By combining diverse perspectives, Planning Poker provides more reliable estimates than individual judgments alone.
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Builds Consensus: Reaching agreement fosters alignment and a shared sense of ownership within the team.
When to Use Planning Poker
Planning Poker is particularly useful in the following scenarios:
• Estimating new or complex tasks with multiple unknowns
• Building alignment among cross-functional teams
• Encouraging participation in distributed or remote teams
• Preparing for sprints with a diverse range of backlog items
Tips for Effective Planning Poker
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Prepare the Backlog: Ensure user stories are well-defined and prioritized before starting the estimation session.
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Set Time Limits: Keep discussions focused and avoid excessive debate over minor differences in estimates.
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Facilitate Effectively: The Scrum Master should guide the process, ensuring everyone participates and discussions stay on track.
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Review Past Estimates: Reflect on previous sprints to improve accuracy and refine the team's estimation process.
Planning Poker is more than just a tool for estimation—it's a practice that brings teams together, fosters collaboration, and builds a shared understanding of project work. By combining structured discussion with a touch of playfulness, Planning Poker turns estimation into an engaging and productive activity. Whether you're planning your next sprint or tackling a complex project, Planning Poker can help your team deliver with confidence and precision.