Running an Agile t-shirt sizing session is a helpful and engaging way to estimate the relative sizes of work items or user stories in a project. It’s a more intuitive and less granular method than traditional estimation techniques like story points. Here are the steps to facilitate a t-shirt sizing session…
Preparation
- Gather the Team: Ensure all relevant team members are present, including developers, testers, and anyone else who contributes to the delivery of work items.
- Set Up the Environment: Use a comfortable room with enough space for collaboration. For remote teams, choose a reliable video conferencing tool and an online board where everyone can view and interact with the items to be sized.
- Explain the Process: Make sure everyone understands the concept of t-shirt sizing and how it will be used to estimate the relative effort or complexity of tasks. Sizes typically include XS, S, M, L, XL, and sometimes XXL.
Calibration
- Select Benchmark Stories: Choose a few completed stories as benchmarks. Assign each a t-shirt size that reflects its complexity or effort required. This helps establish a baseline for comparison.
- Discuss Benchmarks: Briefly discuss the chosen benchmark stories with the team to ensure there’s a shared understanding of what each size represents.
Sizing Session
- Present Items to Size: Introduce the user stories or work items that need sizing. Ensure each item is clearly defined and understood by the team.
- Initial Sizing: Each team member independently selects a t-shirt size for each item based on their understanding of its complexity relative to the benchmark stories.
- Reveal and Discuss: Team members reveal their sizes simultaneously to avoid influencing each other. Discuss any significant discrepancies in sizing to understand different perspectives.
- Consensus: Aim for consensus on sizes. If disagreements persist, consider using a simple majority or revisiting the item’s definition and requirements.
Refinement and Re-evaluation
- Refine Estimates: As more information becomes available or work progresses, be prepared to revisit and adjust the sizes of items.
- Continuous Learning: Use the completion of sized items as a learning tool to refine and adjust the understanding of what each t-shirt size represents.
Documentation and Tracking
- Record Sizes: Document the agreed sizes for each item in your project management tool or tracking system.
- Monitor and Adapt: Use the t-shirt sizes to help plan sprints and track progress. Adjust your approach based on feedback and the evolving needs of the team and project.
Tips for Success
- Encourage Open Communication: Foster an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their perspectives.
- Avoid Analysis Paralysis: The goal is to estimate relative sizes, not to achieve perfect accuracy. It’s okay to make best guesses and adjust later.
- Use as a Planning Tool: T-shirt sizes can help with sprint planning by grouping items of similar sizes or ensuring a balanced workload.
T-shirt sizing is a collaborative and dynamic process. It emphasises team consensus and allows for flexibility and adjustments as the project evolves.
What’s working / not working for you in project estimation?
Would love to hear your thoughts below!