Sprints are the backbone of Agile development. To complete a project on time and within budget, you need accurate sprint estimates.

But accurate estimates can be challenging, especially with a team and complex projects.

Here’s how to improve team estimations and avoid common pitfalls.

Why do you need accurate sprint estimates?

Sprint estimates indicate the effort required for a series of tasks, based on assumptions, requirements, and dependencies.

Sprint estimates indicate the effort required for a series of tasks, based on assumptions, requirements, and dependencies.

Accurate sprint estimates help Agile teams determine how many tasks to include in a sprint, distribute workload evenly, and coordinate workflows based on effort and dependencies.

The estimation process gives the team a bird’s-eye view of the project, enabling them to assess requirements, identify risks, and gauge team capacity to avoid overcommitment.

By associating story points with time, teams can create an accurate project timeline to support business decisions like product launches and marketing plans. Sprint estimates are essential for aligning the team and preparing for upcoming tasks.

How to create accurate sprint estimates

How do you know how much your team can get done in a sprint?

Understanding the time each task will take is essential. It’s also the trickiest part of sprint planning! Here’s how to coordinate your team for accurate sprint estimates:

Create estimates as a team

In Agile planning, the team members who will be doing the work collectively come up with the estimates. Everyone involved participates in the process so you can account for various perspectives and tap into diverse experiences.

Pick the right software

Whiteboards and sticky notes no longer support distributed teams or ensure equal participation. Collaboration software can help you coordinate the estimation process and provide project insights. Here are five things to look for in sprint estimation apps:

User story and task breakdown: Ability to break down projects into user stories or tasks and estimate each component based on size, complexity, and effort required.
Team collaboration: Real-time collaboration features like shared boards, voting systems (e.g., Planning Poker), and comment threads that allow teams to discuss and refine estimates together.
Historical data: Your estimation software should track past performance and make the data available to the team. It can serve as a reference point for future estimates.
Support for different estimation techniques: Your software should support various estimation methods like the Fibonacci sequence, T-shirt sizing, and story points, catering to different team preferences.
Integration with project management tools: Seamless integration with popular project management systems (e.g., Jira, Trello, or Azure DevOps) for tracking estimates within the workflow.

Establish user stories

Most sprint estimation techniques are based on user stories, which describe features from the user’s perspective. There are many user story estimation techniques, and it’s important to choose one that suits your team and project needs.

Sprint estimation techniques are based on user stories, which describe features from the user’s perspective.

Prioritize user stories

Consider the value, cost, and risks of each feature. Maximize value with the lowest cost or complete riskier tasks early to reduce uncertainties.

Select an iteration length

Choose a sprint length (2-4 weeks) based on project duration and uncertainty. Shorter sprints allow for frequent feedback when there are more unknowns.

Break down big tasks

For tasks over 8 hours, break them into smaller pieces to improve estimation accuracy. Move some parts to the backlog if needed.

Address backlog items

Review the product backlog to align priorities, maximize sprint value, and ensure resources are in place. Estimating new items helps clarify requirements.

Revisit and update release plan

After each sprint, update the release plan to integrate lessons learned, adjust priorities, address new risks, and refine future estimates.

Overcoming Agile estimation pitfalls and challenges

Nailing your sprint estimates can be tricky. Avoid these common pitfalls:

Applying the same pace to a different team: Different teams complete story points at different rates, so avoid assuming one standard pace.
Failure to account for all the activities: Account for meetings, messages, and review time in your estimates to set realistic timelines.
Planning fallacy: People often underestimate effort. Breaking tasks into smaller chunks can improve estimation accuracy.
Confusing estimation with commitment: Adding buffers is OK for commitments but counterproductive for sprint estimates.
Overlooking technical debt: Account for time spent fixing previous issues before tackling new sprint tasks.
The complexity of an application: As applications evolve, resolving conflicts and feature interactions takes more effort.
Lack of evidence: Avoid basing estimates on gut feelings alone; use data from previous sprints to refine future estimates.

Using reliable data from past sprints will help you to improve accuracy and mitigate these challenges.

Nail your estimates with Agile Poker for Jira

With the right software, implementing best practices and overcoming challenges can have a greater impact.

For Agile dev teams using Jira for their project management, Agile Poker for Jira helps managers improve estimates by engaging all team members in the process. It balances speed and accuracy with a flexible toolkit for backlog estimation and refinement.

Live and asynchronous modes enable real-time or time-zone-friendly collaboration, ensuring every team member’s input is valued.

The app enables teams to select the estimation technique that suits them best, including Fibonacci sequence, t-shirt sizing, bucket system, or custom values.

Session analytics, sprint velocity, and a capacity calculator provide insights into team performance and capacity.

With seamless Jira integration, estimation data flows directly into user stories or tasks in your Jira instance.

See for yourself how Agile Poker for Jira can enhance your team’s estimation process.

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How to master your sprint estimates

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