Easy Story Estimation

Easy Estimation in Agile

Story Point Estimation Easy Methods

In Story sizing, team does a comparative analysis between all of the stories for the project. Let’s see the Generic story sizing steps.

For each story to be sized, do the following as a team (Product Owner, Scrum Team, Architect (if require by Team) scrum master).

 Identify Base stories.

It is very important to identify one or multiple base or reference story against which you would do relative sizing of the backlog. This story is picked from current product backlog or a different story which we have done earlier. Team can select in size complexity like low, medium and high ,But what is important is the understanding of this story is same among everyone on the team. Team should be confident of this base story.

Discuss the requirements of the story.

Product Owner/Product Manager, will answer questions and provide explanation about what exactly this story entails.

Discuss and list down things In Story which you require to know at time of implementing story.

These can be bullet points on the story card or text in the “notes” section of a tool. This is best done by Scrum Master who can add these details as and when discussions are on.

Questions team ask themselves when they start sizing.

1. Design: What will we have to learn before we can start work on this story?

2. Coding: How much code will need to be written for this story? Have we written similar code before?

3. Unit Testing: Will any special setup (e.g., mock objects) be required to unit test this story?

4. Acceptance Testing: How much work is involved in helping the customer to automate the acceptance tests for this story?

5. Integration Points: Does this story have external dependencies?

6. Expertise: Does anyone of us have done similar story before?

Some point of relative comparison.

If this story is about the same amount of work as one you have already sized, give it the same number of points. If it is more difficult, give it a proportionally higher value. If this story is similar to another but less work in some way, give it a lower value.

Reach a consensus among entire team present as to the size of the story as per definition of done.

Validate that your estimates are internally consistent among stories as you go along.

Periodically ensure that all of the 1’s are about the same, all of the 2’s match, etc.

Likewise, the team should agree that a four-point story is roughly twice as much work as a two-point story.