Plan and Estimate phase

A Scrum stage focused on planning and sizing User Stories and their related tasks. It includes creating User Stories, estimating User Stories, committing selected stories to the sprint, identifying tasks, estimating tasks, and updating the Sprint Backlog.

Key Points

  • Produces a realistic Sprint Backlog with agreed scope and effort estimates.
  • Product Owner clarifies priorities and acceptance criteria; Developers estimate; Scrum Master facilitates.
  • Common techniques: story points, relative sizing, Planning Poker, task breakdown and hour estimates.
  • Outputs include committed User Stories, decomposed tasks, updated Sprint Backlog, and captured risks/assumptions.

Example

At sprint planning, the team selects the top Product Backlog items totaling 30 story points, clarifies acceptance criteria, breaks each story into tasks (e.g., design, API changes, tests), estimates hours for tasks, commits to the sprint scope, and updates the Sprint Backlog accordingly.

PMP Example Question

Which statement best describes the Plan and Estimate phase in Scrum?

  1. The team plans and sizes User Stories and tasks, commits to sprint scope, and updates the Sprint Backlog.
  2. The team deploys the increment to production and gathers end-user feedback.
  3. The team creates the product vision and high-level roadmap.
  4. The team conducts a daily 15-minute meeting to synchronize work.

Correct Answer: A — Scrum planning and estimation phase

Explanation: The Plan and Estimate phase focuses on selecting, estimating, committing to User Stories, breaking them into tasks, and updating the Sprint Backlog for the upcoming sprint.

Advanced Project Management — Measuring Project Performance

Move beyond guesswork and status reporting. This course helps you measure real progress, spot problems early, and make confident decisions using proven project performance techniques. If you manage complex projects and want clearer visibility and control, this course is built for you.

This is not abstract theory. You’ll work step by step through Earned Value Management (EVM), learning how cost, schedule, and scope come together to show true performance. You’ll build a solid foundation in EVM concepts, understand why formulas work, and learn how performance data actually supports leadership decisions.

You’ll master Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), control accounts, and budget baselines, then apply core EVM metrics like EAC, TCPI, and variance analysis. Through a detailed real-world example, you’ll forecast outcomes, analyze trends, and understand contingencies and management reserves with confidence.

Learn how experienced project managers monitor performance, communicate results clearly, and take corrective action before projects slip. With practical exercises and hands-on analysis, you’ll be ready to apply EVM immediately. Enroll now and start managing performance with clarity and control.



Stop Managing Admin. Start Leading the Future!

HK School of Management helps you master AI-Prompt Engineering to automate chaos and drive strategic value. Move beyond status reports and risk logs by turning AI into your most capable assistant. Learn the core elements of prompt engineering to save hours every week and focus on high-value leadership. For the price of lunch, you get practical frameworks to future-proof your career and solve the blank page problem immediately. Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee-zero risk, real impact.

Enroll Now