Planning Poker
Planning Poker | Scrum Poker
Planning Poker, also known as Scrum Poker, is a consensus-based technique primarily used to estimate effort or story points needed for each requirement. This method is especially valuable during sprint planning and Delphi methods, where participants anonymously provide their estimation. Instead of stating estimates aloud, team members place numbered cards face down on the table. Then, everyone reveals their cards simultaneously and discusses their reasoning. By displaying cards at the same time, the team reduces cognitive bias, ensuring that no single number influences others before they make independent estimates.
Scrum Poker is a variation of the Delphi and Wids. James Grenning created this technique in 2002, and later, Mike Cohn popularized the term in his book Agile Estimating and Planning.
Why Use Planning Poker?
The primary reason for using Scrum Poker is to prevent participants from influencing each other. If a team member states a number out loud before others have chosen, it can unintentionally steer the group’s estimates. This method ensures that each participant independently evaluates the effort required before revealing their decision. By doing so, teams obtain more accurate and unbiased estimations.
What You Need for Planning Poker
To implement this estimation technique effectively, each participant must have a set of cards with values. Additionally, if limiting discussion time is necessary, a timer can help maintain efficiency.
The cards typically represent numbers from the Fibonacci sequence—0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89. This sequence accounts for the increasing uncertainty of larger tasks. For instance, distinguishing between 1 and 2 is straightforward, but differentiating between 21 and 22 is far more challenging.
By utilizing Planning Poker, teams can generate more accurate estimates, minimize bias, and enhance collaboration during the estimation process.