Agile Estimation Techniques

Agile Estimation Techniques
Mikalai Alimenkou
http://xpinjection.com
16.04.2011

Background
Java Technical Lead/Scrum Master at Zoral Labs
6+ years in software development
4+ years of working by Agile methodologies
Expert in Agile engineering practices
Founder and coachat XP Injection (http://xpinjection.com)

Calculated approximation of a result which is usable even if input data may be incomplete or uncertain
The art of guessing what the amount of time will be for a certain activity
Guessing the complexity and duration of a task/feature

By definition
estimates are inaccurate

Do we need
estimates
in Agile?

Time waste

No time
for good
decisions

Fear to miss estimate

But estimates are useful

Better business decisions

Select scope for release
or iteration

Healthy discussion

Get team commitment

Build trust
Increase
responsibility

Spread realistic
complexity vision

Parkinson’s Law
Work expands to fill the
time available for doing it

Let’s do it
Agile way!

Think differently…

We are really good at comparison

Planning Poker

Why
it
works?

Be careful of anchoring!

Team Estimation Game

Why Team Estimation Game?

Optimize it!

Don’t try
to estimate
everything

No 100% agreement?
Reduce risks!

Classification
instead of estimation

Use other scale

Divide work on equal parts

How to estimate better?
Learn from your failures
Practice, practice, practice!
Estimate with other teams
Compare your estimates

Apply on personal level
Working time
management
Personal time
management

How to avoid
estimation?

Highly motivated
and responsible team

Team is interested
in product success

Product roadmap
is scope based

is based on
continuous
improvement

Any questions?

http://kiev.agilebasecamp.org	42
http://xpinjection.com	17
http://paper.li	1

Agile Estimation Techniques

by Mikalai Alimenkou on Apr 17, 2011

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Agile Estimation Techniques — Presentation Transcript