HKSM

Planning Poker, also called Estimation Poker, is a collaborative way to estimate work that combines independent scoring with group discussion to judge the relative size of user stories or the effort to deliver them.

Key Points

• Uses numbered cards (often Fibonacci: 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21) to represent relative effort or story points.
• Estimators pick and reveal cards at the same time to reduce anchoring and groupthink.
• Outliers explain their reasoning; the team discusses and re-votes until estimates converge or a consensus range is set.
• Best applied during backlog refinement or sprint planning for relative sizing, not precise hour-based estimates.

Example

During backlog refinement, the team estimates the "password reset" user story. Members reveal cards: 8, 5, 5, 3, and 8. The 3 argues it reuses an existing email service; the 8 notes edge cases and security. After discussion, a second round yields consensus at 5 story points.

PMP Example Question

A Scrum Team wants to estimate user stories while limiting anchoring bias and combining individual judgment with group dialogue. Which technique should the Scrum Master use?

1. Affinity Estimation
2. Planning Poker
3. Three-Point Estimating
4. T-shirt Sizing

Correct Answer: B — Planning Poker

Explanation: Planning Poker uses simultaneous, independent card selection followed by discussion, balancing individual thinking with group consensus and reducing anchoring.