Agile Estimation Techniques

Agile project management is a popular approach to software development that emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and iterative delivery. In agile project management, accurate estimation is crucial for planning and executing projects effectively. Estimation techniques help teams determine the time and resources needed to complete a project and enable them to deliver a quality product within the expected timeframe. In this blog, I will discuss various estimation techniques used in agile project management with examples.

1. Planning Poker:

Planning Poker is a popular estimation technique used in agile project management. It involves the team members discussing and estimating the work items using a deck of cards with numbers that represent relative effort. Each team member receives a set of cards with numbers and chooses the card that they believe represents the effort required to complete the work item. The team members then reveal their chosen card simultaneously, and the estimation is discussed until a consensus is reached.

For example, suppose a development team needs to estimate the effort required to implement a new feature. The team members receive a set of planning poker cards with numbers ranging from 1 to 20. They choose the card that they believe represents the effort required to complete the feature. If one team member chooses a 3, and another chooses a 5, they discuss the reasons for their estimates until a consensus is reached.

2. Wideband Delphi:

Wideband Delphi is another popular estimation technique used in agile project management. It involves a group of experts estimating the time and resources required to complete a project. Each expert provides an independent estimate, and the estimates are then averaged to determine the final estimate.

For example, suppose a development team needs to estimate the time required to complete a project. The team members identify a group of experts, who provide independent estimates of the time and resources required to complete the project. The individual estimates are then averaged to determine the final estimate.

3. Three-Point Estimation:

Three-Point Estimation is a technique used to estimate the time and resources required to complete a project. It involves estimating the most likely, optimistic, and pessimistic scenarios for each task or work item. The three estimates are then combined to determine the expected time required to complete the task or work item.

For example, suppose a development team needs to estimate the time required to complete a task. The team members estimate the most likely, optimistic, and pessimistic scenarios for the task. The most likely scenario is that the task will take 3 days to complete, the optimistic scenario is that it will take 2 days, and the pessimistic scenario is that it will take 5 days. The three estimates are then combined to determine the expected time required to complete the task, which is (2+4+5)/3 = 3.67 days.

4. Story Points:

Story Points are a relative estimation technique used to estimate the effort required to complete a task. In this technique, each task is assigned a numeric value based on its complexity, effort, and risk. The values are assigned based on the team’s collective knowledge and experience. The values are then used to estimate the time required to complete the task.

Example: Let’s say a team is estimating the effort required to develop a feature for a web application. The team assigns the following story points to the task: 3, 5, 8, 13, and 20. After discussion, the team decides that the task is equivalent to 8 story points. The team can then use historical data to estimate the time required to complete the task.

5. T-Shirt Sizing:

T-Shirt Sizing is a relative estimation technique used to estimate the effort required to complete a task. In this technique, each task is assigned a size based on its complexity, effort, and risk. The sizes are assigned based on the team’s collective knowledge and experience. The sizes are then used to estimate the time required to complete the task.

Example: Let’s say a team is estimating the effort required to develop a new feature for a mobile application. The team assigns the following sizes to the task: XS, S, M, L, and XL. After discussion, the team decides that the task is equivalent to a size M. The team can then use historical data to estimate the time required to complete the task.

6. Affinity Estimation:

Affinity Estimation is a technique used to estimate the size or complexity of a project. It involves breaking down the project into smaller components and arranging them into groups based on their relative size or complexity. The team then assigns a value to each group based on the relative size or complexity.

Example: Suppose a development team needs to estimate the size or complexity of a project. The team members break down the project into smaller components and arrange them into groups based on their relative size or complexity. The team assigns a value to each group based on the relative size or complexity, such as small, medium, or large. The size or complexity of the project can then be estimated by adding up the values assigned to each group.

Summary and key takeaways:

The estimation techniques are essential in agile project management for planning and executing projects effectively. The techniques discussed in this blog, such as Planning Poker, Wideband Delphi, Three-Point Estimation, and Affinity Estimation, provide teams with various methods to estimate the time and resources required to complete a project. By using these techniques, teams can make informed decisions about project timelines and resources, and deliver quality products within expected timeframes.

It is important to note that each technique has its strengths and weaknesses and may be more suitable for certain situations. For example, Planning Poker is more useful for estimating the effort required to complete a work item, while Wideband Delphi is more suitable for estimating the time and resources required to complete a project.

Furthermore, teams must involve all stakeholders in the estimation process, including developers, product owners, and project managers. This ensures that everyone is on the same page regarding project timelines and resources and helps to build a shared understanding of the project.

In addition, teams should continuously re-evaluate and adjust their estimates as the project progresses. This allows them to make necessary adjustments to timelines and resources and ensures that the project stays on track.