Planning Poker
A consensus-based estimation technique used by agile teams. Each team member uses a deck of cards with Fibonacci-sequence numbers to estimate the effort or complexity of a user story. Simultaneous card reveal prevents anchoring. The discussion triggered by divergent estimates is where the real value lies — it surfaces different assumptions and hidden complexity.
How to run it
- 1
The product owner reads a user story aloud and answers clarifying questions.
- 2
Each participant privately selects a card representing their effort estimate.
- 3
All participants reveal their cards simultaneously.
- 4
If estimates are similar: take the average or majority and record the estimate.
- 5
If estimates diverge significantly: the highest and lowest estimators explain their reasoning.
- 6
After discussion, run another round. Repeat until the group converges.
- 7
Record the agreed estimate and move to the next story.
Tips
The '?' card means 'I don't understand this story enough to estimate' — it's a signal to clarify, not to skip.
The ☕ card signals the team needs a break.
Don't skip divergence discussions — they're the point.
Variations
Run online with tools like PlanITPoker or Jira. Use T-shirt sizing (XS/S/M/L/XL) instead of numbers for non-technical audiences.
Where it fits
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