How do you run a successful agile estimation session?

1 Choose a suitable method

There are different methods of agile estimation, such as planning poker, t-shirt sizing, dot voting, affinity mapping, and bucket system. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the size, maturity, and culture of your team. You should choose a method that fits your context, goals, and preferences. For example, planning poker is a popular method that uses a deck of cards with numbers representing units of effort, such as story points or hours. It encourages discussion, consensus, and transparency among team members. However, it can also be slow, tedious, and influenced by anchoring or groupthink. Therefore, you should experiment with different methods and see what works best for your team.

2 Prepare your stories and criteria

Before you start your agile estimation session, you should have a clear and concise list of user stories or tasks that you want to estimate. You should also have a common understanding of the definition of done, the acceptance criteria, and the scope of each story or task. You can use tools like Jira, Trello, or Miro to create and organize your stories and criteria. You should also review your stories and criteria with your product owner, stakeholders, and team members to ensure that they are aligned, consistent, and feasible.

3 Facilitate the session effectively

As a facilitator of the agile estimation session, you should set the agenda, expectations, and ground rules for the session. You should also explain the chosen method, the scale, and the unit of estimation to your team. You should encourage your team to participate actively, share their opinions, ask questions, and provide feedback. You should also manage the time, pace, and energy of the session. You should avoid long debates, conflicts, or distractions that can derail the session. You should also celebrate the achievements, acknowledge the challenges, and thank the team for their contributions.

4 Validate and adjust the estimates

After you finish your agile estimation session, you should validate and adjust the estimates based on the feedback, data, and learning from your team and stakeholders. You should compare the estimates with the actual effort, time, and quality of the deliverables. You should also review the assumptions, risks, and dependencies that affect the estimates. You should use tools like velocity charts, burn-down charts, or cumulative flow diagrams to track and visualize the progress and performance of your team. You should also conduct retrospectives to identify the strengths, weaknesses, and improvement opportunities of your estimation process.

5 Keep the estimates flexible and transparent

Agile estimation is not a one-time activity, but an ongoing practice that evolves with your project. You should keep your estimates flexible and transparent to accommodate the changes, uncertainties, and feedback that arise along the way. You should communicate your estimates clearly and honestly to your team, product owner, and stakeholders. You should also update your estimates regularly and proactively based on the new information, insights, and priorities. You should also use your estimates as a tool to guide your decisions, not as a contract to bind your commitments.

6 Learn and improve continuously

Agile estimation is not a perfect science, but a learning opportunity. You should learn and improve continuously from your experience, experiments, and feedback. You should seek feedback from your team, product owner, and stakeholders on how to make your estimation process more effective, efficient, and enjoyable. You should also learn from other teams, experts, and resources on how to apply best practices, tips, and tricks to your estimation process. You should also embrace a growth mindset, a curious attitude, and a collaborative spirit to enhance your agile estimation skills.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?