Agile estimation practices that could have helped improve the project estimates.

address each of the following:
• Choose one estimation practice from the resources provided in module readings and review its pros and cons.
• Consider a project from work or school that you estimated poorly before. Briefly describe the project, then identify one or two agile estimation practices that could have helped you improve the project estimate.
identify additional agile estimation practices that could have helped improve the project estimates. Explain how the practices could work with the practices already defined.

TidBIT
Estimating the time necessary to complete a project is a challenging task, whether you are estimating how long it will take you to develop a program or even just to complete an assignment for your schoolwork! Agile estimation strategies can be helpful in different types of work, and will hopefully reduce the stress that normally comes along with planning projects.

Image Reference
Munroe, R. Estimating time. XKCD webcomic. Retrieved from: https://xkcd.com/1658/.
Required Resources

Textbook: The Project Manager’s Guide to Mastering Agile opens in new window, Chapter 7
Chapter 7, Agile Estimation, provides you with knowledge about how to estimate a project scope using the agile model. The chapter outlines the differences between a typical plan-driven or waterfall estimation process and the more desirable agile estimation process. This chapter also describes agile estimation practices such as story points and burn-down charts. As you read, consider the following:
• How do waterfall and agile estimation processes differ? How do agile processes allow for more flexibility?
• How are story points determined?
• What do the burn-down and burn-up charts show?
Reading: Agile Requirements Change Management opens in new window
This short reading discusses why and how change is “embraced” by agile teams, especially those working with the Scrum framework. This reading will help you understand the context behind the scenario in the Module Five assignment. As you read, consider the following:
• How does change work in an agile process? Why is this important?
• Who is responsible for prioritizing the requirements for a project? Who is responsible for estimating the requirements for a project?
• What are the benefits to being open to changing requirements? What are the challenges?
A text version opens in new window of Figure 1 from this reading is available.
Note: This reading uses the term “iteration” in a few places. In this case, consider the term a synonym for the Scrum word “Sprint”.
Reading: Agile Estimation Techniques opens in new window
This article supports the module discussion.