The Real Value of Estimation
Estimation is not just about assigning points and value to a goal/story, estimation is really about common understanding and seeing how much it takes to get it done.
Hi dearie, Iqmat here again…
If you are familiar with Agile and Scrum practices then the concept of estimation is not new to you neither is the word story point regardless of the different estimation techniques.
Couple of times, I’ve heard people say stuff like; estimation is a scam, Agile is not really effective etc but the truth is there is only a way to make agile effective and that way is for you to?be?Agile while you?do?Agile.
Practicing just one will not make it effective, you have to be?doing?Agile and?being?Agile at the same time.
Enjoying your read so far !
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When you estimate in Agile, you estimate stories and tasks needed to deliver incremental value.
This can equally be applied to our daily life because whatever activity we engage in as humans, our brain naturally does an estimation consciously and unconsciously.
That is why we can easily say something took too long, or didn’t take so much time, bla bla bla. That’s a gist for another day anyways.
The value of estimation is really not the point given to the task, the value of estimation comes from the shared understanding that you are able to create within the team.
When you estimate tasks and stories as a team it puts everyone on the same page and brings a shared understanding of what goes into the task, the expected output and how much effort it requires.
The story point itself does not increase the team’s effectiveness, but the process of assigning a point to a task or story is what brings the value of estimation because it is at this moment that discussion about the task is held and the common understanding is achieved.
It is just like saying experience is the best teacher, It is not the incident that is been referred to as the teacher but what we make out of the incident is the teacher.
But like I mentioned earlier, if your team does estimation and feel no value is gotten, it is an indication that you are only?doing?agile but not?being?agile.
Book recommendation: Hooked: How to build Habit Forming Products by Nir Eyal
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Love and Light.
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