T-Shirt Sizes

5 minutes 5 Questions

T-Shirt Sizes is an effective technique used for relative sizing. The sizes are usually XS, S, M, L, XL, and tasks are grouped according to the size they most identify with. It aims at making the estimation process quicker and focuses on comparative order of magnitude, rather than on exact values. …

Guide to T-Shirt Sizes and Estimation Techniques

Estimation in project management is crucial as it allows the effective use of resources and ensures a smooth project flow.
T-Shirt sizes is one of the common estimation techniques.
Why is it Important?
This technique is known for its simplicity, and allows all team members, even those not experienced in project estimation, to participate in the process. It helps to avoid the bias and provides a higher level of abstraction.
What is it?
It's a simple estimation method that uses sizes XS, S, M, L, XL instead of exact figures or hours. Thus, XS might refer to tasks that take little time/resources, while XL can refer to tasks that would take a lot.
How it works?
Firstly, the team builds a common understanding of the size comparison (XS-SM-M-L-XL); after that, the tasks are divided according to their complexity or effort required using these sizes.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on T-Shirt Sizes
1. Be familiar with the concept and the aim of the T-shirt sizes estimation technique.
2. Understand that the sizes are equivalent to the effort, complexity and duration of the tasks. For instance, 'XL' task will take longer time and requires more resources than 'S' task.
3. Remember that sizes do not translate directly to a specific number of hours or days. They are relative measures of effort.
4. The question might be framed to check if you know this technique allows less experienced team members to participate in the estimation process.

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CSM - T-Shirt Sizes Example Questions

Test your knowledge of T-Shirt Sizes

Question 1

The Scrum team estimated a user story as 'M', but towards the end of the sprint they realize they have overestimated the work involved. What should they do?

Reassign a smaller T-Shirt size and recalculate the sprint's workload. Finish the task earlier than planned and then revise the estimates for future sprints. Voluntarily delay the task's completion to match the original estimate. Ask the product owner to add more tasks to the sprint.

Correct Answer: Finish the task earlier than planned and then revise the estimates for future sprints.

In Scrum methodology, if a team realizes they've overestimated a task, they should complete it earlier and adjust future estimates accordingly. This reflects the ability of the team to learn from their estimations, adapt quickly and promote continuous improvement (Answer: 'Finish the task earlier than planned and then revise the estimates for future sprints.'). The concept of voluntarily wasting time to match the original estimate contradicts the principles of Scrum and Agile which promotes efficiency and delivering business value in the shortest time possible (Answer: 'Voluntarily delay the task's completion to match the original estimate.'). Asking the product owner to add more tasks into the ongoing sprint will disrupt the initially agreed upon sprint scope and it's against Scrum principles (Answer: 'Ask the product owner to add more tasks to the sprint.'). The concept of re-assigning a smaller T-Shirt size and recalculating the sprint workload can be disruptive to the sprint's flow and is not typically done in Scrum methodologies (Answer: 'Reassign a smaller T-Shirt size and recalculate the sprint's workload.')

Question 2

You are in a Scrum planning meeting and the team is estimating 'S' T-shirt size for a well-defined task, but one team member, new to the project, considers it as 'M'. What should be the proper course of action in this situation?

Allocate the task to the new member and adjust the size based on their comfort level. Use a consensus-based estimation technique such as planning poker to re-estimate. The Scrum Master should make an executive decision on the estimation to avoid conflicts. Encourage the team to adopt the average of the estimations as a compromise. This involves calculating the mean value of the estimations provided by all team members, including the new member's 'M' and the others' 'S', and using this average as the final estimation. This technique aims to balance differing perspectives by merging them into a singular, more agreeable estimation. However, it's important to note that this approach might not fully represent the complexities or simplifications perceived by individual team members, potentially leading to inaccuracies in the estimation process.

Correct Answer: Use a consensus-based estimation technique such as planning poker to re-estimate.

The Scrum framework encourages teams to use consensus-based techniques for estimation, ensuring that the entire team has a say and reaches a common agreement on task sizes. This not only helps in better understanding of the task by everyone involved but also promotes team collaboration and collective responsibility. Methods like planning poker facilitate this by allowing each member to vote anonymously on their perceived size of the task and then discuss the reasons behind their estimations when there is a significant difference in views. Directly modifying the estimation based on a single viewpoint, making a unilateral decision, or averaging the estimations without a thorough discussion does not align with Scrum values and principles. Therefore, leveraging a consensus-based technique is deemed the most appropriate course of action in such scenarios.

Question 3

While estimating the T-shirt size of a task, the team is divided between 'L' and 'XL' as multiple team members have differing views. As a Scrum Master, what should you do?

Use the Fibonacci sequence to vote again, this time forcing a choice between two adjacent sizes in the sequence instead of T-shirt sizing. Ask the Product Owner to make the final decision on the task size based on their knowledge of the backlog and user stories. Break down the task into smaller components and estimate them individually to see if it adds up closer to 'L' or 'XL', facilitating a more granular approach to estimation. Implement a modified Delphi technique allowing anonymous estimation to help converge on a size without direct confrontation.

Correct Answer: Implement a modified Delphi technique allowing anonymous estimation to help converge on a size without direct confrontation.

The correct answer involves using a technique that reduces bias and encourages consensus without direct conflict, fitting the role of a Scrum Master to facilitate team interactions positively. Asking the Product Owner to intervene directly contradicts the principles of team self-management and estimation. Reverting to Fibonacci voting misaligns with the scenario’s T-shirt sizing context and may not resolve the issue. Breaking down the task could be a viable strategy in some cases but may also unnecessarily complicate the process and is not directly addressing the immediate disagreement.

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