Story Points in Agile Project Planning - JU-DEV-Bootcamps/ERAS GitHub Wiki

Introduction

Story points are a unit of measure used for estimating the effort required for tasks or user stories within an agile framework. Unlike time-based estimates (such as hours or days), story points measure the relative complexity and effort of a task, without depending on the actual time it will take to complete it. This approach helps with better planning and managing expectations for the team and stakeholders.

How Are Story Points Calculated?

Story points are not an absolute value but a relative measure. This means task A could be assigned 3 points, while task B, which is more complex, could be assigned 8 points. The general process for determining story points is as follows:

Select a reference: Choose a user story or task that the team considers to be a baseline or "reference," with a set story point value (e.g., 5 points).
Relative comparison: Compare other stories or tasks to the reference task to estimate their relative complexity.
Collaborative estimation: The team discusses the stories and uses techniques such as Planning Poker to reach a consensus on the story point value.
Adjust according to experience: Over time, the team can adjust story point values based on their historical velocity.

Types of Sequences for Measuring Story Points

There are several ways to measure story points, each with its advantages depending on the team and project context. Here are some of the most popular sequences:

1. Fibonacci Sequence (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, etc.)

The Fibonacci sequence is one of the most common methods for measuring story points. This sequence is used because it reflects the exponential increase in task complexity as size increases.

Advantages:

Larger values for more complex tasks help avoid underestimating the effort required.
Encourages more discussion when estimates are larger, which generally improves accuracy.

Example:

Small task: 1 story point
Medium complexity task: 5 story points
Complex task: 13 story points

2. Simple Sequence (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, etc.)

A simpler linear sequence where tasks increase in points gradually. While easier to apply, it may lead to underestimation since it doesn't reflect the exponential increase in complexity.

Advantages:

Easy to understand and apply, especially for new teams.
Works well for smaller projects or tasks with minimal differences in complexity.

Example:

Small task: 1 story point
Medium complexity task: 3 story points
Complex task: 5 story points

3. Power of 2 Sequence (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, etc.)

This sequence is based on powers of 2, meaning each task increases exponentially in size and complexity.

Advantages:

Helps avoid overestimating small tasks and underestimating large ones.
Very useful when there are significant differences in complexity between tasks.

Example:

Small task: 1 story point
Moderate task: 4 story points
Complex task: 16 story points

4. T-Shirt Sizing (XS, S, M, L, XL)

This method uses t-shirt sizes (Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large) to estimate the effort of tasks. Although not numerical, it is a quick way to communicate effort estimation.

Advantages:

Simple and fast for teams that are new or need a quick estimation without getting into details.
Less precise than other methods but useful in the early stages of a project.

Example:

Small task: XS
Medium task: M
Complex task: XL

Tools for Measuring Story Points

To apply story points in a project, it's essential to use tools that allow effective management, tracking, and visualization of these estimates. Below are some of the best tools for measuring and managing story points:

1. Jira

Jira is one of the most widely used tools in agile environments. It has built-in features for measuring story points and managing team work in sprints.

Features:

Story Point Estimation: You can assign story points to each user story or task.
Scrum and Kanban Boards: Visualize the progress of stories and tasks with their corresponding estimates.
Burnup and Burndown Charts: Measure progress based on completed story points for each sprint.
Integration with other tools: Jira integrates seamlessly with other tools like Confluence, Bitbucket, and Slack.

Advantages:

Widely popular and heavily used in agile teams.
Powerful reporting and performance tracking features.

2. Trello (with Power-Ups)

Trello is a more simple and visual project management tool, but it can be extended with Power-Ups (add-ons) to support story point estimation.

Features:

Cards for user stories: You can create cards for tasks and assign them story points using Power-Ups like Scrum for Trello.
Kanban boards: Organize tasks in columns based on their progress.
Progress visualization: Although it doesn't have advanced tools like Jira, you can use labels and lists to manage task progress.

Advantages:

Easy to use and accessible for small teams.
Integrates with other tools like Slack and Google Drive.

3. GitLab

GitLab provides a comprehensive suite of tools for development and agile project management. While focused on continuous integration, it also allows for task estimation and tracking story points.

Features:

Issue Management: You can assign story points to issues (tasks) directly.
Kanban Boards: GitLab offers boards to visualize the progress of tasks along with their estimates.
Integration with Git: Perfect for teams already using GitLab for version control.

Advantages:

Ideal for teams already using GitLab for their workflow.
Supports integration with CI/CD (Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment) tools.

4. GitHub

While GitHub doesn't have a specific system for measuring story points, it can still be effectively used to manage agile tasks with some configuration and integrations. You can use Issues and Projects to organize tasks and assign story points manually.

Features:

GitHub Issues: Issues can be tagged with story points. This can be done using custom labels or in the issue title, e.g., "#5" for 5 points.
GitHub Projects: Use GitHub Projects boards to visualize and organize the progress of tasks. You can create columns like “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Done” and use labels to indicate story point estimates.
Integrations: GitHub can integrate with third-party tools like ZenHub or Waffle.io to add direct support for scrum and kanban, and manage story point estimations.

Advantages:

Great for teams already using GitHub as their code repository and managing pull requests.
Supports integration with agile workflow tools like ZenHub, which adds better story point management.

Comparison with Other Estimation Methods

Method	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages
Story Points	Estimation based on relative complexity and effort.	Better long-term planning and flexibility.	Can be subjective if not properly agreed upon.
Hours	Estimation based on the actual time required to complete a task.	Easy to understand and use, especially for newcomers.	Can lead to unrealistic expectations.
Tasks	Estimation based on unitary tasks (e.g., "Task X takes 2 days").	Easy to follow and assess.	Doesn't reflect complexity or dependencies in the work.

Best Practices

Use a collaborative estimation approach: Estimation should involve the whole team, as different perspectives enrich the assessment.
Use a consistent reference story: Keep a standard reference across sprints to ensure more consistent estimations.
Avoid over-precision: Story points are relative estimates, not an exact science. Precision isn't the most important—consistency is.
Adjust values over time: Early sprints' experience will help the team better calibrate their estimates as they gain experience.

Conclusion

Story points are a powerful tool for effort estimation in an agile environment. They allow for more flexible and realistic planning without being tied to precise time measurements. With practice and experience, teams can improve their estimation capabilities, enabling them to meet their goals more effectively.