6 Scrum Estimation Techniques: A Detailed Explanation

Scrum is a popular framework within Agile methodology that emphasises the importance of Estimation for effective planning and delivery. The Scrum Estimation Techniques collaboratively help teams to analyse and forecast the effort required for each piece of work. This blog will delve into the basic principles and methodologies that Scrum teams employ to Estimate the effort and complexity of their tasks. 

Whether you are a seasoned Scrum practitioner or a newcomer, this guide will provide insights into the world of Scrum. Let's explore these Scrum Estimation Techniques together and empower your team with the knowledge to Estimate with precision and confidence. 

Table of Contents

1) What is the Scrum Estimation Technique? 

2) How to Estimate Sprints? 

3) Different Scrum Estimation Techniques 

   a) Planning poker 

   b) T-shirt sizes 

   c) Dot voting   

   d) The bucket system 

   e) Large/uncertain/small 

   f) Three-point method 

4) Conclusion 

What is the Scrum Estimation Technique? 

Estimation in Scrum forecasts the effort required to complete a specific task or user story. It helps teams plan and prioritise their work effectively, ensuring projects stay on track and deliver value to stakeholders.
 

How to Estimate Sprints? 

Scrum Estimation Techniques follow a structured approach that involves breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable units. This breakdown allows teams to assess the complexity of each task more effectively. Here's a general process for estimating tasks: 

a) The first step is to break down larger tasks or user stories into smaller, more manageable units. 

b) Once tasks are broken down, the team assigns relative sizes or values to them. 

c) As the next step, Scrum teams use various Scrum Estimation Techniques to assign values to tasks. 

d) After individual Estimations are made, the team engages in discussion to ensure a shared understanding of the effort involved. 

e) Once consensus is reached, the Estimated effort for each task is finalised and recorded. 

Different Scrum Estimation Techniques 

Estimation in Scrum can be approached in various ways, each with its unique advantages. Let's explore six popular Scrum Estimation Techniques:
 

1) Planning poker 

Planning poker is a collaborative and interactive Estimation technique widely embraced by Scrum teams. It mostly involves assigning story points to tasks based on their perceived complexity. Additionally, it uses a deck of cards with Fibonacci numbers or other relative values. It involves the following processes: 

a) Team members are presented with a task or user story. 

b) Each member privately selects a poker card representing their Estimate of the effort required. 

c) The cards are revealed simultaneously, promoting unbiased individual Estimates. 

d) Discussion ensues if significant discrepancies exist, ensuring diverse perspectives are considered. 

e) The team aims to reach consent for the estimated effort, often using the median or average of individual estimates. 

In addition, planning poker has some exceptional advantages. Some of them are discussed below: 

a) Encourages active participation and discussion among team members. 

b) Highlights the difference in effort between tasks using Fibonacci numbers, focusing on relative complexity. 

c) Structured sessions lead to quick and focused Estimations. 

d) Discussions uncover potential risks or uncertainties associated with tasks. 

e)  Everyone's estimates are visible, fostering trust and alignment within the team. 

2) T-shirt sizes 

T-shirt sizes are among the popular Scrum Estimation Techniques that categorise tasks into small, medium, large, and extra-large. This method simplifies Estimations for quick assessments and high-level planning. To grasp its procedure, review these points: 

a) Tasks are categorised into T-shirt sizes based on their complexity or effort required. 

b) Sizes represent relative effort levels, allowing teams to focus on overall sizes rather than exact numbers 

c) This method is beneficial for initial Estimations and high-level planning sessions. 

A few of its amazing advantages are as follows: 

a) Easy to understand and apply, making it accessible to all team members. 

b) Quick Estimations without the need for precise calculations. 

c) Helps prioritise and organise tasks based on their overall size. 

3) Dot voting 

Dot voting is a visual technique where team members place dots or stickers on tasks they consider important. This method helps prioritise tasks based on team consensus. To comprehend its procedure, you may refer to the following: 

a) Team members are provided with dots or stickers. 

b) They place these on tasks they believe are crucial or require attention. 

c) Tasks with the most dots are prioritised for further discussion or focus. 

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This approach is advantageous in numerous ways. Some of its notable benefits include: 

a) Allows for quick identification of critical tasks 

b) Highlights tasks that most team members consider important 

c) Quick and effective in determining task priorities 

4) The bucket system 

The bucket system involves categorising tasks into predefined buckets based on their complexity or size. Herein, tasks are grouped into buckets such as "quick wins," "medium effort," and "big rocks." The following points can make you understand its procedure: 

a) Tasks are categorised into buckets based on their complexity, risk, or effort required. 

b) This categorisation provides a visual representation of task distribution. 

c) Helps balance workload and prioritise tasks based on their bucket. 

This method offers several advantages. Some of its noteworthy benefits include the following: 

a) Provides a clear overview of task distribution 

b) Helps in distributing tasks evenly among team members 

c) Allows for easy identification of tasks in each bucket 

5) Large/uncertain/small 

The Large/uncertain/small technique categorises tasks into three groups based on their perceived effort. This specifies that small tasks are well-understood and straightforward.  Uncertaintyous tasks have uncertainties, and large tasks require significant effort. To comprehend its process, you can review the following points: 

a) Tasks are categorised into small, uncertain, or large based on their complexity and understanding 

b) Small tasks are straightforward and well-defined, while uncertain tasks have uncertainties or unknowns 

c) Large tasks require significant effort or resources to complete. 

Such Scrum Estimation Techniques further provide numerous benefits. Some of its notable advantages are as follows: 

a) Quickly identifies tasks with potential risks or uncertainties 

b) Provides a simple and effective way to categorise tasks based on their effort 

c) Helps prioritise tasks based on their category 

6) Three-point method 

The Three-point method involves estimating tasks by considering three scenarios: the best case, worst case, and most likely case. Herein, team members provide Estimates for each scenario, and the average or consensus is used as the final Estimate. You can go through the following points to review its process: 

a) Team members Estimate tasks based on three scenarios: best case, worst case, and most likely case. 

b) The best case represents the optimistic Estimate. Whereas the worst case is the pessimistic Estimate, and the most likely case is the most realistic Estimate. 

c) Later, the average or consensus of these three Estimates is used as the final Estimate for the task. 

Such Scrum Estimation Techniques come with exceptional advantages. A few of them are discussed below: 

a) Encourages teams to consider potential risks and uncertainties in their Estimates 

b) Provides a balanced view by considering best and worst-case scenarios 

c) Promotes discussion and agreement among team members on the final Estimate. 

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Conclusion 

In conclusion, the discussed Scrum Estimation Techniques offer diverse approaches to estimating effort and complexity within a project. By understanding and utilising these techniques, Scrum teams can effectively plan. Additionally, they can deliver value to stakeholders in an agile and efficient manner. 

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