Wideband Delphi Technique

5 minutes 5 Questions

The Wideband Delphi technique encourages anonymous, independent estimation by each team member. The process typically involves iteration until a consensus has been reached. Each estimator independently estimates then all estimates are revealed at once. Discussion follows where information is exchanged about each estimate. The facilitator might provide an average for guidance but doesn’t provide the ‘right’ answer. The iterations can continue until consensus is achieved, though it isn't enforced. This can be incredibly valuable as it manages cognitive biases like anchoring, where early estimates can unduly influence future ones.

Guide: Wideband Delphi Technique for PSM I Exam

The Wideband Delphi Technique is important because it allows for more accurate estimation in project management; particularly in cases where uncertainty is high, or experience is low. It was developed to overcome the limitations of the standard Delphi technique.
The principle of this technique is to use a panel of experts who anonymously offer estimates on a specific task. These estimates are reviewed as a group, after which, each panel member can adjust their estimate based on what was discussed.
The process continues until a consensus is reached.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Wideband Delphi Technique
1. Understand the process: Make sure you can explain the step-by-step process of this technique.
2. Recognize its benefits: Remember that its main benefits are anonymity and reduced pressure, leading to more accurate estimates.
3. Know when to use it: You should be able to identify situations in which it would be advantageous to use the Wideband Delphi technique.
4. Practice: Answer a few practice questions or case studies to familiarize with how these questions might be posed in the exam.
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PSM I - Wideband Delphi Technique Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Wideband Delphi Technique

Question 1

During a Wideband Delphi estimation session, one of the team members always offers her estimate last, frequently influencing the other team members. As the Scrum Master, how should you address the situation?

Correct Answer: Encourage the team to use Planning Poker, making it mandatory for all members to reveal their estimates simultaneously after a count-down.

Encourage the team to use Planning Poker, making it mandatory for all members to reveal their estimates simultaneously after a count-down. This method addresses the issue of influence by ensuring that all team members present their estimates at the same time, thereby reducing the potential for any single estimate to disproportionately sway the opinions of others. This approach promotes a more balanced and democratic estimation process, where each member's input is equally considered.

Question 2

Your team has used the Wideband Delphi estimation technique for estimating the backlog items. A member has consistently been estimating higher than the rest of the team, pushing the overall estimates upwards. What is the best approach to this scenario?

Correct Answer: Encourage everyone to revisit the points of contention, sharing insights behind their estimates, followed by a consensus-driven re-estimation session.

The best approach when someone is consistently estimating higher is to encourage open discussion and re-estimation. This helps in understanding the perspective behind different estimates and arriving at a more accurate and collectively agreed-upon estimate. Simply adopting a new estimation technique or ignoring the variance doesn’t deal with the underlying issue of understanding the estimates. An anonymous voting system may reduce bias but could also lessen the value of discussions that can lead to better understanding and estimation. Using the average of estimates without discussion encourages speed but potentially sacrifices the accuracy and learning opportunity for the team.

Question 3

During a Wideband Delphi estimation session, team members found the re-estimation process to be tedious and time-consuming as they failed to reach a consensus after several rounds. How should the Scrum Master address this?

Correct Answer: Organize a retrospective to understand the challenges in the estimation process and explore alternatives.

Organizing a retrospective allows the team to collectively reflect on their estimation process, identify challenges, and decide on improvements. This approach empowers the team to inspect and adapt their practices, which is a key principle in Scrum. It fosters collaboration and continuous improvement.

Alternative options suggest prescribing solutions without team involvement or addressing symptoms rather than root causes. By involving the team through a retrospective, the Scrum Master facilitates a more effective and team-owned solution.

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