How Scrum Poker Works
What is Planning Poker?
Planning Poker (also known as Scrum Poker) is a consensus-based estimation technique used by Agile teams, particularly in Scrum. It's a fun, engaging way for teams to estimate the relative effort of tasks or user stories.
The technique uses a deck of cards with values based on the Fibonacci sequence (0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, etc.), which reflects the inherent uncertainty in estimating larger items.
Our Scrum Poker Tool brings this collaborative estimation technique online, making it accessible to remote and distributed teams. It enhances the experience with role-playing and skill development features.
How to Use Scrum Poker Tool
1. Create a Room
Click "Create Room" from the homepage. Enter a room name and your name. Select your Agile role (Scrum Master, Product Owner, Developer, etc.). Each role has unique abilities and skills.
2. Invite Your Team
Share the generated room link with your team members. They can join by clicking the link or entering the room ID on the homepage. They'll select their own roles to join the session.
3. Add a Topic for Estimation
As a host, enter the user story or topic that needs estimation in the text field and submit it. This will be visible to all team members for the current voting round.
4. Select Your Estimate
Each team member selects a card representing their estimate of the relative effort required (using Fibonacci numbers: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc.). Your selection is kept hidden from others until revealed.
5. Reveal and Discuss
Once everyone has voted, the host can reveal all votes. This is when the team discusses significant differences in estimations to reach a consensus. Each role can contribute unique perspectives.
6. Record Final Estimate
After discussion, record the final agreed estimate. The team earns experience points (XP) based on participation and accuracy. Reset for the next story and continue through your backlog.
Role-Playing and Skill System
Our unique role-playing system adds depth to the estimation process. Each role (Scrum Master, Developer, Product Owner, etc.) has a specific skill tree that progresses as you participate in more estimation sessions.
You earn XP by participating in estimation, with bonus XP awarded when your estimate matches the final consensus. As you level up, you can invest points in your role-specific skills to enhance your abilities.
This gamification element makes the estimation process more engaging and incentivizes accurate estimation and active participation.
Benefits of Online Planning Poker
- Engages the Whole Team: Everyone participates in estimation, promoting collective ownership.
- Reduces Anchoring Bias: By revealing all votes simultaneously, it prevents early opinions from anchoring others.
- Facilitates Discussion: Wide estimation variances trigger valuable discussions about requirements and complexity.
- Builds Team Consensus: The process leads to shared understanding and agreement on estimations.
- Works Remotely: Our tool enables distributed teams to collaborate effectively on sprint planning.
- Adds Fun to Scrum Ceremonies: The role-playing and skill progression elements make estimation enjoyable.
- Improves Estimation Accuracy: Teams get better at estimating through practice and feedback.