What is Planning Poker?
Planning Poker is a collaborative estimation technique utilized in Agile projects to determine the relative effort required to complete user stories. It involves a team of developers, Scrum Master, and stakeholders gathering together and assigning story points to each user story.
The Fibonacci Sequence in Planning Poker
Now, you might be wondering, why the Fibonacci sequence? The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones. In the context of Planning Poker, the Fibonacci sequence is used as a scale for assigning story points to user stories. The most commonly used Fibonacci sequence in Planning Poker is 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, and so on.
Importance of the Fibonacci Sequence in User Story Estimation
So, why is the Fibonacci sequence so significant in user story estimation? Let’s explore a few reasons.
Relativity and Complexity
The Fibonacci sequence helps teams estimate the relative complexity of user stories by comparing them to previously completed stories. This approach acknowledges that estimating complex tasks with high precision is challenging. By assigning story points based on the Fibonacci sequence, the focus shifts to the relationship between different user stories, promoting relative estimation rather than absolute figures.
Non-linear Scale
The non-linear nature of the Fibonacci sequence reflects the exponential growth in complexity and uncertainty as tasks become more intricate. It helps prevent teams from falling into the trap of assigning story points too precisely. This non-linear scale encourages discussions among team members, leading to a better understanding of the user stories and potential challenges.
Limited Precision
The Fibonacci sequence intentionally lacks precise values like 4, 6, or 10 to discourage teams from trying to estimate tasks with a false sense of accuracy. Instead, it encourages a more realistic and probabilistic approach to estimation. The focus is on capturing the essence of a story's complexity rather than obsessing over minute differences between estimates.
Benefits of Planning Poker and Fibonacci Sequence
By incorporating Planning Poker and the Fibonacci sequence into the estimation process, Scrum teams can experience several benefits.
Collaborative Decision-making
Planning Poker fosters a collaborative environment where team members share their perspectives, knowledge, and assumptions. It encourages open discussions and allows everyone to contribute to the estimation process, leading to better-informed decisions.
Increased Accuracy
The Fibonacci sequence provides a more accurate representation of the relative complexity of user stories. Teams can leverage the historical data of completed stories to estimate new ones based on their familiarity and understanding of the Fibonacci sequence.
Transparency and Stakeholder Engagement
Planning Poker promotes transparency and engages stakeholders in the estimation process. By involving stakeholders in the discussion, the team can gain a deeper understanding of their expectations, align priorities, and manage expectations effectively.
The Process of Planning Poker with the Fibonacci Sequence
The process of Planning Poker with the Fibonacci sequence typically follows these steps.
1) Preparation
The team gathers together, including developers, Scrum Master, and stakeholders, in a dedicated estimation session. The session should be conducted in an environment conducive to open communication and collaboration.
2) Explanation of User Stories
The Product Owner presents the user stories to the team, providing a clear description of each story's objective, requirements, and any relevant acceptance criteria. This ensures that all team members have a shared understanding of the user stories.
3) Story Point Assignment
The team selects a user story to estimate, and the facilitator reads it aloud. Each team member privately selects a card or writes down their estimate representing the story points they believe the user story requires. The Fibonacci sequence cards, such as 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, are commonly used for this purpose.
4) Revealing Estimates
Once every team member has made their estimation, everyone reveals their cards simultaneously. If there is a consensus, the assigned story points are recorded. However, if there is a significant discrepancy in estimates, the team engages in a discussion to understand the differing viewpoints and reasons behind their estimates.
5) Discussion and Consensus
The discussion phase is crucial in Planning Poker. Team members explain their rationale for their estimates, highlighting factors such as complexity, uncertainty, dependencies, and risks associated with the user story. Through open dialogue, the team aims to reach a consensus and converge on a shared understanding of the effort required.
6) Repeat and Refine
Steps 3 to 5 are repeated for each user story until all stories have been estimated. As the estimation process progresses, the team can refer back to previously estimated user stories to ensure consistency and maintain a relative understanding of effort.
7) Finalize Story Points
Once all user stories have been estimated, the assigned story points are recorded and become the basis for planning future work. These story points can be used to determine the team's velocity, which represents the amount of work the team can complete in a given sprint.
