Atlassian Agile Project Management Professional Certification Practice Exam

How is relative estimation used in Scrum?

1. By comparing user stories to each other

2. By estimating hours needed for each task

3. By using past project data to inform estimates

4. By relying on expert opinions for accuracy

The correct answer is: By comparing user stories to each other

Relative estimation in Scrum focuses on comparing user stories or tasks to each other rather than estimating them in absolute terms like hours. This method leverages the collective understanding of the team regarding the complexity and effort involved in delivering specific user stories or features. By using a baseline user story as a reference point, team members can collaboratively assess the relative size and complexity of other stories. This approach reduces uncertainty and potential bias that might occur when estimating tasks in hours, which can vary greatly from person to person and project to project. Instead, relative estimation encourages team discussions and facilitates a shared understanding of the work ahead, leading to more accurate assessments over time as the team develops greater experience with their workload. In contrast, the other options focus on more absolute measures of estimation, such as estimating hours or relying heavily on historical data without a comparative approach, which does not fully capture the benefits of relative estimation in the Scrum methodology.