Why you should customize your planning poker deck

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Have you ever thought about tailoring your Planning Poker deck to better suit your team’s needs? This article explores the benefits of customizing your deck and how it can enhance your estimation process.

How Do You Play Planning Poker?

Playing Planning Poker is straightforward and fun. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1️⃣ First, gather your team, including developers, testers, and the Product Owner. The Scrum Master typically facilitates the session. Each team member gets a set of cards with values like 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 20, 40, and 100. Some decks also include a “?” for unclear items and a coffee cup for breaks.

2️⃣ Next, the Product Owner presents a user story or task to the team. Team members can ask questions to clarify any uncertainties. Once everyone understands the task, they silently consider how much effort it will take and choose a card that matches their estimate.

3️⃣ On the count of three, everyone reveals their cards simultaneously. If all cards show the same number, that becomes the estimate. However, if the cards differ, the team discusses the reasons for their choices. The highest and lowest estimators explain their thinking, which often reveals important details about the task.

4️⃣ After the discussion, the team votes again if needed. This process repeats until the team reaches a consensus. The goal is to agree on relative effort, not exact time, so keep discussions focused and listen to different viewpoints.

5️⃣ Finally, once there’s an agreement, record the final number and move on to the next task.

Tips for smooth play:

• Keep discussions short and focused.
• Listen to different viewpoints – they often reveal important details.
• It’s okay to change your estimate after hearing others’ reasoning.
• Remember, the goal is to agree on relative effort, not exact time.

It’s a great way to build shared understanding and improve planning accuracy over time. 

Why Your Team Needs a Customized Planning Poker Deck

Customizing your Planning Poker deck can significantly improve your team’s estimation process. Here are the key benefits:

Project-Specific Fit 

Standard decks don’t always match your team’s unique needs. A custom deck reflects the specific aspects of your work, making estimations more relevant.

Improved Accuracy 

Tailoring your deck to your team’s estimation style leads to more precise and useful estimates. You can use values that make sense for your project size and complexity.

Increased Engagement 

Custom decks make the estimation more fun and relatable. Team members often feel more connected to a deck they helped create, leading to better participation and discussions.

Flexibility 

Your team likely handles various project types or sizes. A custom deck allows for different card sets, helping you estimate more accurately across all your work.

Team Culture Alignment 

Incorporating team-specific references or inside jokes in your deck design can boost morale. It turns Planning Poker into a team-building activity with a personal touch.

A custom Planning Poker deck isn’t just about changing numbers or images. It’s a tool tailored to your team’s specific needs, culture, and work style. This customization often results in smoother planning sessions, more accurate estimates, and better project outcomes.

Creating a New Planning Poker Deck with AgileBox

AgileBox makes it easy to create a custom planning poker deck in Jira for your team. Here’s how to do it in a few simple steps:

🧭 Access the Customization Feature 

Start by going to Apps (1) → AgileBox App (2). This is where you’ll find all the tools to customize your AgileBox experience, including Planning Poker Custom decks (3).

🎴 Start a New Deck 

Look for the Custom Decks option and click on Add a new set. This will open up the deck creation interface where you can design your unique Planning Poker cards.

⚙️ Set Up Your Deck 

Give your new deck a name (1) and add a description (2). This helps your team identify the right deck for different projects or estimation needs. You’ll also choose the label position (3) for your cards, which affects how the values are displayed.

🎨 Design Your Cards 

Now for the fun part – creating your custom deck cards. For each card:

• Select an image that represents the value or concept (1)
• Define the size or name of the card (2)
• Assign a numerical value (3)

You can add as many cards as you need, with whatever values make sense for your team. Don’t forget to include special cards like “?” or “coffee break” if your team uses them.

💾 Save and Use Your Deck 

Once you’re happy with your custom deck, click Save. Your new deck is now ready to use! To start a game with your custom deck, go to the Planning Poker feature, create a new game, and choose the deck you just created from the list of available options.

Creating a custom deck allows your team to estimate in a way that truly fits your project and work style.

Best Practices for Custom Deck Design

Best Practices for Custom Deck Design

• Use clear, distinct values that are easy to understand at a glance. Avoid overcomplicated systems that can slow down estimation.
• Involve your team in deciding what each card represents. When everyone understands the scale, estimates become more consistent.
• Choose relevant images or symbols, but ensure they don’t distract from the estimation process.
• Adjust card values to match the size and complexity of your typical tasks. Skip values that don’t apply to your work.
• Add cards like “?” for unclear items or a coffee cup for breaks. These encourage communication during the estimation process.
• Pay attention to how well the deck works and be open to adjustments. A good deck evolves with your team’s needs and skills.

These practices will help you create a Planning Poker deck that fits your team and sharpens your estimation skills over time.

Conclusion

Customizing your Planning Poker deck is a simple yet effective way to improve your team’s estimation process. By adapting the deck to your specific needs, you can potentially increase engagement, enhance accuracy, and make planning sessions more productive.

The ideal deck is one that resonates with your team and aids in your estimation efforts. Whether you opt for traditional numbers, T-shirt sizes, or a completely unique system, the goal is to create a tool that works seamlessly for your team.