How Do You Play Agile Planning Poker?

Agile Planning Poker is a popular estimation technique used by teams in Agile software development. It helps teams to estimate the size of user stories, features, or tasks accurately. The technique is simple and easy to use, but it requires some preparation and understanding of the process.

To play Agile Planning Poker, you need a team of developers, product owners, and stakeholders who will participate in the estimation process. The team should have a good understanding of the project requirements and goals.

The first step is to prepare a deck of estimation cards. The deck should have cards with numbers or story points written on them. The numbers or points should be arranged in an ascending order to represent the relative size of the task.

Once you have prepared the deck, gather your team together and select a task that needs to be estimated. Then, each member of the team selects a card from their deck that represents how much effort they think it will take to complete that task.

After everyone has made their selection, all members reveal their cards simultaneously. If there are differences in their estimates, they can discuss why they chose those values before re-estimating until everyone agrees on a final estimate.

PRO TIP:Agile Planning Poker is a great way to quickly and accurately estimate the effort required for a project. To play, each team member is given a deck of cards with values assigned to each card (e.g. 1, 2, 4, 8). The team discusses the task and each person chooses a card representing their estimation of how long the task will take. Once everyone has chosen a card, all cards are revealed at once and discussed. The most common value amongst all players is taken as the estimated time for the task.

To make this process more efficient and effective, consider using some best practices:

1) Use Fibonacci numbers – Fibonacci numbers are often used for Agile Planning Poker because they represent relative sizes better than linear numbers like 1-10.

2) Use T-shirt sizes – This method involves using t-shirt sizes (XS, S, M, L) instead of numbers for estimation. This makes it easier for non-technical stakeholders to understand and participate in the process.

3) Limit discussion time – To avoid lengthy discussions that consume time without reaching any agreement on estimates, limit discussion time per round and move on if necessary.

4) Allow for abstentions – Sometimes members may not have enough information or experience to provide an accurate estimate. In such cases, allow for abstentions and seek additional input if necessary.

In conclusion, Agile Planning Poker is a powerful technique that helps teams to estimate tasks accurately. It promotes collaboration, transparency, and effective communication among team members. By following best practices and guidelines, you can ensure that your team plays Agile Planning Poker effectively and efficiently.