Story Points Is The Shit
A very strong product development tool, when used correctly!
In the Agile community, the debate over the efficacy of story points is as prevalent as ever, with contrasting views. Critics argue that story points are either redundant, e.g. the #NoEstimates movement, or wrongly equated with hours. This perspective misses the nuanced value story points and poker planning bring to teams, particularly in fostering the three C's—Card, Conversation, and Confirmation—and building a shared understanding within teams. This blog post aims to clarify the purpose and strategic use of story points, illustrating how they facilitate essential team dynamics.
Demystifying Story Points: Story points measure complexity, effort, and uncertainty, distinguishing themselves from direct time estimates. They provide a high-level view to help teams understand story sizes relative to each other, accommodating software development's unpredictability. Contrary to criticisms, story points transcend mere time estimation, enabling more flexible and informed planning.
The Power of Poker Planning: Poker planning enhances the utility of story points by promoting team-wide engagement and diverse viewpoints. This consensus-driven estimation technique ensures comprehensive team involvement, leading to more accurate collective assessments of work based on varied insights.
Focusing on the Three C's:
Card: Each user story, symbolized by a card, catalyzes team discussion, ensuring a unified starting point.
Conversation: Story points and poker planning ignite valuable discussions, enabling team members to dissect assumptions, exchange insights, and detail tasks. This dialogue is crucial for a deep understanding of project complexities.
Confirmation: Through these discussions, teams align on what success for each story entails.
Example in Conversation: Consider a scenario where a team debates whether a task is worth 2 or 13 story points. While some might see this as a trivial discrepancy, it's the discussion triggered by such differences that is invaluable. For instance, a developer might view a feature as straightforward (2 points), overlooking potential complexities identified by a tester (13 points). This gap prompts a brief yet critical conversation, revealing overlooked aspects like edge cases or integration challenges. Such discussions are gold; they enhance team understanding and ensure all angles are considered. It's less about the specific numbers and more about uncovering and addressing these discrepancies through dialogue.
The Misplaced Focus on Precision: I've seen teams debating whether a user story is a 1, 2, or a 3 points, which misses the point 🙃. The true value lies in the discussions sparked by significant discrepancies in estimation. These conversations are where the real insights emerge, helping teams align their understanding and expectations. While other methods can facilitate this alignment, the direct and structured nature of story points and poker planning, when applied correctly, proves particularly effective.
Building a Shared Understanding: Assigning story points via poker planning is about more than estimating work; it's a means to achieve a shared understanding among team members. This consensus on scope and complexity ensures aligned team expectations, key to collaboration.
Responding to Critics: While not universally applicable, dismissing story points overlooks their potential for fostering collaboration and communication. Real-world examples demonstrate how story points have improved team dynamics, estimation accuracy, and product outcomes, emphasizing the importance of how these tools are used rather than the tools themselves.
Conclusion: Story points and poker planning are invaluable not for the quantifiable estimates they provide but for the collaborative interactions they foster within Agile teams. They facilitate meaningful discussions, ensuring a unified approach to project challenges. By emphasizing the conversation and shared understanding they encourage, teams can navigate the complexities of software development more effectively, embodying the true spirit of Agile.