Guide on Affinity Estimating

What is Affinity Estimating?
Affinity Estimating is a technique used for estimating efforts or sizes in the project management field. Tended to enhance quick decision-making in fast-paced projects, it allows teams to rank tasks in comparison to each other, in rough estimates. It involves writing user stories or tasks on cards and grouping them based on their 'affinity' or similarity.

Why is it important?
Affinity Estimating crucially assists in the prioritization of tasks, fostering consensus within the team, and gaining a shared understanding of work context. It provides a fast and collaborative way of estimating that breeds more accurate results due to shared disagreements and discussions.

How does it work?
Teams start by writing tasks or user stories on cards or Post-it notes. Then, they sort these cards into columns or 'buckets' of similar size or effort. Group members discuss and make adjustments until everyone agrees on the card's placement. The process ensures that the whole team agrees on the size/effort of each task.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Affinity Estimating
Understanding the fundamental principle of Affinity Estimating is essential to answering exam questions correctly. Remember, it's about comparing and grouping tasks based on their size or effort.

• Don't focus on precise measurements - Affinity Estimating is about 'relative' sizes, not exact values.
• Show your understanding of the method's collaborative nature - Examiners want to see that you understand the role of discussions and consensus in the process.
• Discuss its practical contribution to project planning - Highlight how it aids in decision-making, prioritization, and shared understanding of tasks.