Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start a new Planning Poker room in ScrumJam?

Starting a new room in ScrumJam is super simple! You can create a room in several ways: 1) Type a specific room name on the main page, 2) Click 'Create Instant Room' to let the system generate a random room name, 3) Choose a specific card deck from the /planning-poker page, or 4) Type the URL directly with a room ID like scrumjam.app/room?id=yourroom. No registration required to get started!

Do I need to create an account to use ScrumJam?

No! ScrumJam is designed to be extremely simple to start. You can join any room as a guest without creating an account. However, creating an account allows you to access additional features like room history, custom settings, and Pro features if you have a subscription.

How do I invite my team to a ScrumJam Planning Poker session?

Inviting your team is easy! Once you're in a room, you can: 1) Click the 'Copy Link' icon to copy the room URL to your clipboard and share it with your team, 2) Use the QR code feature to let team members scan and join instantly, or 3) Simply share the room name - anyone can type it on the main page to join. Anyone with the link or room name can join immediately.

What's the difference between ScrumJam Free and Pro versions?

ScrumJam Free is usable forever with core features: unlimited rooms, unlimited voting, Fibonacci and T-shirt size card decks, and support for multiple users. ScrumJam Pro unlocks advanced features: custom card decks, voting history and statistics, tasks section for issue voting, Jira integration and sync, team management, company management, private rooms, and advanced game settings like instant reveal.

Can I use custom card decks in ScrumJam?

Yes! With ScrumJam Pro, you can create and use custom card decks tailored to your team's needs. The free version includes popular options like Fibonacci sequences and T-shirt sizing, but Pro subscribers can create completely custom decks with their own values and naming conventions.

Does ScrumJam integrate with Jira?

Yes! ScrumJam Pro includes seamless Jira integration. You can import issues directly from your Jira projects, vote on them during your Planning Poker sessions, and sync the story point estimates back to Jira automatically. This eliminates manual work and keeps your backlog up-to-date.

Learn more about our Jira integration features.

How does team management work in ScrumJam Pro?

ScrumJam Pro includes comprehensive team management features. Company Admins can create up to 10 teams with up to 30 members each. Team Leads can manage their team settings and invite members. The system supports role-based permissions, domain-based auto-joining, and each team gets their own private room. Members are managed by email addresses, making collaboration seamless.

What are private rooms in ScrumJam?

Private rooms are available with ScrumJam Pro and are linked to your teams. Only team members, team leads, or company admins can access these rooms. Private rooms require email verification and provide enhanced security for your team's estimation sessions. Public rooms remain available for anyone to join with just the room link.

How does ScrumJam's domain-based auto-join feature work?

With ScrumJam Pro, Company Admins can enable domain-based auto-joining. When enabled, anyone with your company's email domain can automatically join any team room without needing a specific invitation. This feature makes it easy for colleagues to collaborate while maintaining security through domain verification.

Can I see voting history and statistics in ScrumJam?

Yes, with ScrumJam Pro you get comprehensive voting history and statistics. You can track past estimation sessions, see how your team's estimates evolve over time, and analyze voting patterns to improve your estimation accuracy. This data helps teams become more calibrated in their planning poker sessions.

Is ScrumJam suitable for remote and distributed teams?

Absolutely! ScrumJam is built specifically for remote collaboration. Features like real-time voting, instant sharing via links or QR codes, and simultaneous card reveals make it perfect for distributed teams. The responsive design works seamlessly across devices, and the fast, stable platform ensures smooth sessions regardless of team location.

What happens if my ScrumJam Pro subscription expires?

If your Pro subscription expires, your company data and private rooms will be removed, and all team members will lose access to Pro features. However, you can still use ScrumJam's free version with all its core functionality. Your account remains active, and you can resubscribe anytime to restore full team management features.

What is Planning Poker?

Planning Poker, also known as Scrum poker, is a collaborative estimation technique used in agile project management. It is commonly used by Scrum teams to estimate the effort or relative size of user stories, tasks, or backlog items during the sprint planning process. The method involves team members using a deck of cards with numbers representing story points or relative effort, and through a discussion, they collectively assign a value to each item based on their understanding and expertise.

What is a Planning Poker room?

A Planning Poker room, refers to a physical or virtual space where the Scrum team gathers to conduct the Planning Poker sessions. It can be a meeting room, an online collaboration tool, or any other designated space where team members can participate in the estimation process comfortably. The poker room provides an environment for open communication and collaboration among team members, allowing them to collectively determine the effort required for each backlog item.

Which scale is typically used in Planning Poker?

The most popular scale in Planning Poker is the Fibonacci sequence, which includes numbers like 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, and 89. While this is the go-to choice for many teams, there are alternative scales such as T-shirt sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL), a modified Fibonacci scale (0, 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 20, 40, 100), a linear scale (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10), double-doubling (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64), and a Fibonacci-like scale (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 20). Teams choose the scale that best suits their needs and helps facilitate effective task estimation and consensus-building.

What is the purpose of using Planning Poker in agile projects?

Planning Poker is used in agile projects to facilitate accurate and collaborative estimation of effort or relative size for user stories or backlog items. It helps teams gain a shared understanding of the work involved, promotes transparency, and aids in effective sprint planning and backlog prioritization.

How does Planning Poker promote team collaboration?

Planning Poker encourages team collaboration by creating a platform for open discussion and debate among team members during estimation. It allows everyone to share their perspectives, raise concerns, and provide insights, fostering a collaborative environment where collective knowledge is leveraged to arrive at more accurate estimations.

Are the Planning Poker numbers fixed or can they be customized?

The Planning Poker numbers can be customized based on the preferences and needs of the team or organization. While the Fibonacci sequence is commonly used, some teams might choose to modify the scale, introduce additional numbers, or even adopt a linear scale depending on their specific context and estimation requirements.

Can Planning Poker be used for estimating tasks other than user stories?

Yes, Planning Poker can be applied to estimate various types of tasks or backlog items, not just limited to user stories. It can be used to estimate technical tasks, bugs, epics, or any other work items that need to be estimated for planning purposes within an agile project.

How does Planning Poker address individual biases in estimation?

Planning Poker helps address individual biases by employing a collaborative approach. Since team members discuss and justify their estimations, it encourages them to consider multiple perspectives and challenge any personal biases or assumptions. Through consensus building and shared decision-making, the influence of individual biases is minimized, resulting in more accurate and unbiased estimations.

What is playing poker technique in agile?

Playing poker technique in agile refers to the practice of using Planning Poker, also known as Scrum poker, for estimating the effort or relative size of user stories and backlog items during sprint planning. It involves team members using a deck of cards with numbers to collaboratively assign values to these items based on discussion and consensus.

Is planning poker effective?

Planning Poker is generally considered effective for estimating work items in agile projects. It promotes collaboration, transparency, and helps in arriving at more accurate estimations, making it a valuable tool for sprint planning and backlog prioritization.

When should you play planning poker?

Planning Poker should be played during sprint planning or backlog refinement meetings when the Scrum team needs to estimate the effort required for user stories or backlog items. It is a best practice to use it before committing to work for a sprint.

What does the coffee cup mean in planning poker?

In Planning Poker, the coffee cup is a symbol that can serve two different purposes. First, it can be introduced to indicate that a team member needs a break or a moment to address concerns before continuing the estimation process. This practice ensures that everyone's input is considered, and team members have the opportunity to clarify any uncertainties. Secondly, in some teams, the coffee cup may also be used to signal a team member's uncertainty about which vote to choose, allowing them to express their hesitation during the estimation process. It's worth noting that in Scrum Jam, a similar concept may be represented using bananas 🍌 instead of a coffee cup. 🍵

What is the correct order of steps during planning poker?

The correct order of steps during Planning Poker typically involves the following: 1. A product backlog item is presented for estimation. 2. Team members vote anonymously by selecting and revealing their estimate cards simultaneously. 3. Discussion and clarification take place, with team members explaining their reasoning. 4. Team members re-estimate if necessary. 5. Repeat the process until a consensus is reached. This approach of anonymous voting followed by open discussion helps ensure that individual biases are minimized, and estimations are based on collective knowledge and consensus.

How many hours is 'x' story points?

The number of hours corresponding to a specific number of story points ('x') can vary depending on the team and their historical velocity. Story points are a relative measure of effort and don't directly translate to hours. The team should establish their own baseline for this conversion.

How many story points per 2-week sprint?

The number of story points a team can commit to in a 2-week sprint depends on their historical velocity and capacity. Teams should consider their past performance and available resources to determine a realistic commitment for a sprint.

How can I use ScrumJam's free Planning Poker online for collaborative estimation?

ScrumJam's online Planning Pokeris an easy-to-use agile project management technique. Here's how it works:

1. Create a room or join using a shared link.
2. Invite your team members.
3. Vote on task complexity.
4. Negotiate and agree on specific estimates.

This collaborative approach enhances team engagement and transparency, improving the accuracy of your sprint planning. You can try ScrumJam's free Planning Poker online tool to streamline your agile project management.

How do you use Planning Poker for estimation?

Planning Poker is used by agile teams to estimate the effort required for user stories and tasks. Each team member selects a card representing their estimate, facilitating discussion and consensus-building. This method improves accuracy in sprint planning and enhances team collaboration.

What is the best free online Planning Poker tool?

Scrum Jam offers a free and user-friendly online planning poker tool. With no registration required, it supports real-time collaboration, making it ideal for distributed agile teams. Features include custom decks, voting history, and flexible game settings.