Fibonacci Agile Estimation
Most agile teams opt to combine the Fibonacci sequence with an estimation method called planning poker . In Planning Poker, each team member has a modified deck of cards that corresponds with the Fibonacci sequence. When a task is up for estimation, each member individually picks a card that best matches their estimate for that item. Everyone then reveals their cards simultaneously and discusses their estimates until they reach a consensus. Why is the Fibonacci sequence used in agile estimation? The point of Fibonacci is to force your hand when estimating larger, complex tasks instead of wasting time nitpicking over minor differences . This is best explained through an example that compares simple time-based estimation with Fibonacci estimation. Let’s say you estimated your stories on a steady scale of 1-50. When you discuss your backlog item with the team, one picks 31, the other 36, and a third 38. When the gap between each estimate is a single integer it’s hard to...