Rethinking Estimation in Scrum Teams

Uncover how decomposition and empirical insights can transform your Scrum estimation practice for the better.

The reaction one gets when asking a Scrum Team for an “accurate estimate”

The traditional approach to estimation often becomes a stumbling block, overshadowing the Agile ethos of rapid value delivery and adaptability. The fixation on crafting 'accurate estimates' consumes precious time and effort, diverting attention from where it truly belongs—on delivering value.

Picture a Scrum team within a company entrenched in the conventional cycle of manual estimation. Despite their expertise, the team found themselves ensnared in endless estimation sessions, striving for precision in forecasting effort for product backlog items. This well-intentioned pursuit frequently led to inaccurate predictions, causing delays, dampening team spirit, and ultimately, detracting from their objective of delivering quality software efficiently.  They then spend hours in retrospection trying to improve estimation. Does this sound familiar?

The essence of overcoming this challenge is not refining estimation techniques but fundamentally shifting our perspective towards estimation. With its speculative nature, traditional manual estimation is inherently flawed in any context. The alternative? A pragmatic approach grounded in sizing, decomposition, and empirical data.