Relative Estimation

Definition of Relative Estimation:

Relative estimation is one of estimation approaches in Agile. Scrum Teams for example use relative estimation to determine how much effort is needed to complete the individual tasks of a project. Tasks or user stories are compared against similar, previously completed tasks.

Use of Relative Estimation:

Agile teams use relative estimation to find out how much time and effort will be needed to complete their workload during an iteration based on how long a similar task took to complete. Scrum teams often use a non-numerical scale to compare tasks during their planning session with the help of methods such as planning poker, using the Fibonacci sequence or tee-shirt sizing.

Benefits of Relative Estimation:

  • Helps to find accurate estimates for releases and forecasting.
  • Eliminates waste.
  • Prevents confusion between estimates and commitments.
  • Leads to increased customer satisfaction.

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Author

Photo of Sohrab Salimi

Sohrab Salimi

Scrum Academy GmbH

Sohrab is a long-standing Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) and CEO of the Scrum Academy GmbH based in Cologne. He is a trained medical doctor and worked for Bain & Company as a consultant and as a CIO at SE-Consulting, among others, before founding the Scrum Academy. As a consultant and trainer, he has been supporting companies from a wide range of industries for over a decade on topics related to agile transformation, innovation and organizational development.

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