Task: Estimating the Product Backlog |  |

Periodically the Team will estimate the size of each item on the Product Backlog.
Disciplines: project management

Purpose

Enables the Product Owner to make prioritization decisions

Relationships

Roles

Primary Performer:

- Developer
- Product Owner

Additional Performers:

Inputs

Mandatory:

- Backlog Item

Optional:

- None

Outputs

- Backlog Item
- iteration backlog

Main Description

Prior to release planning and periodically as the product backlog evolves and the team gains insight through experience the Team will estimate the size of items on the Product Backlog. This is key information to help the Product Owner make prioritization decisions (some items may become less of a priority if the Product Owner learns that major effort will be required to deliver them).

Estimations are relative and are measured in “points” rather than real-world units of effort. To the uninitiated this may seem unpredicatable but after the first few iterations, teams can empirically derive a velocity that allows them to accurately predict delivery capability.