Introduction Priority Poker for Tester (Englisch)

Priority Poker for So,ware Tes1ng Introduction and examples

SwissQ Testing Team, March 2012

Herausforderung

Method

Priority Poker in detail

Comparative estimates

Examples

1 2 3 4 5

Summary 6 Next steps 7

Challenge

Priorities of tests!

Existing priorization is often superficial and does not really go into the really (un)critical areas.

Different views!

Each stakeholder has his own view of „what is how important“.

Project leader

BA‘s / Dev‘s / Tester

Employer

Clients

Supplier Specialist

Management Business

Additionally: -  Common understanding -  Understand each others needs -  All information available

Challenge

Method



Example

1 2 3 4 5


Use of relations

Not important Very important

The relative weight produces the test intensity.

Weighing with Fibonacci numbers

100

100

200

300

800

500

1300

2100

3400

The social process

The social process creates a common view of the priorities and risks.

Project leader

Business Analyst

Management

User Dev‘s

Business

Challenge

Method



Examples

1 2 3 4 5


Setting the right priorities

Priority Poker

When playing Priority Poker, all stakeholders set the priorities together. Be it for requirements, for test strategies, test objects, or test cases.

Priority Poker uses the corresponding game cards (can be ordered at SwissQ) and a list of elements to be weighed as e.g. requirements, specifications, user stories, use cases, test objects, test cases or bugs.

All important stakeholders participate, the selection and distribution of information has to be done beforehand. Each person receives a card set.

A moderator who can‘t play is leading the poker session. He‘s responsible for the adherence to the time boxes and stops solution-oriented discussions.

Card values

I need a break! I need an explanation!

Not important (cold)

Very important (hot)

Estimate

Risk view

  How often will the object to be estimated be used?

  What‘s the damage if the object doesn‘t work?

Benefit view

  How probable is it that the object will be used?

  How great is the measurable use of the object?

1 high 2 medium 3 low

Probability of occurrence

1 hi

gh

2 m

ediu

m

3 lo

w

Pos

sibl

e da

mag

e

First round

Step 1: Presentation of the object to be estimated.

Moderator

Step 2: “Secret" estimate of object.

Step 3: Simultaneous disclosure of the estimate.

Max. 2 minutes

Max. ½ minute

Topic Descr. Value

1 Topic 1

2 Topic 2

… …

Explanation of estimate / Second round

Step 4: Explanation of highest and lowest estimate.

Max. 1 minute

200 because…

1300 because…

Step 5: 2. “Secret" estimate of object.

Step 6: Simultaneous disclosure of second round of estimates.

Max. ½ Minute

The decision / Next estimates

Next steps: Repeat procedure until all points on the list have been estimated. The points can now be prioritized and worked on accordingly.

Step 7: Aggreement to one estimate

Moderator

Max. 1 minute

500? OK

OK

OK

Topic Descr. Value

1 Topic 1 500

2 Topic 2 1300

3 Topic 3 300

4 Topic 4 2100

5 Topic 5 1300

6 Topic 6 3400

7 Topic 7 800

Rules Goal-oriented to the right priorities

 Time boxes have to be respected Each activity in Priority Poker is timed and the moderator has to make sure that those time boxes are followed.

 No solution-oriented discussions Only questions about comprehension will be asked and answered during the poker rounds. If a topic on the priority list remains unclear it has to be discussed outside the round and will be reintroduced into a new poker round later.

 No session lasts longer than two hours A new session will be scheduled if there are still non-prioritized topics on the list after two hours.

Challenge

Method



Example

1 2 3 4 5


Comparative estimate of biggest countries

Country Estimate

Belgium 200*

Germany

France

Italy

Liechtenstein

The Netherlands

Norway

Sweden

Switzerland

Spain

* = to be used as reference for estimate

Comparative estimate of biggest countries

Country Size in km² Relation*

Belgium 32.55 200

Germany 357.1 2300

France 543.9 3400

Italy 301.3 1300

Liechtenstein 0.16 100

The Netherlands 41.5 300

Norway 323.7 2300

Sweden 449.9 3400

Switzerland 41.3 300

Spain 504.6 3400

* = approximate relation according to personal estimate

Comparative estimate

Comparative estimates are often easier and more precise. They also remain valid if the adopted basis of the relation changes.

Pro Con   First estimates takes time until the team „rides

the same wave“

  Reference objects needed as a point of orientation for estimators

  Risk of solution-oriented or other philosophical discussions during sessions

  Risk that single estimators dominate the group or use their political power

  Relation mostly remains the same even if the absolute value of the objects changes (e.g. complexity or number of users)

  There are no discussions about absolute values (LoC, number of users, etc.)

  The really important elements are very quickly identified, as well as the insignificant ones

  If an element is extremely important it can be divided up for more deliberate processing

Challenge

Method



Example

1 2 3 4 5


Exercise: how big is the dog?

 Bernese mountain dog

 Chihuahua

 Alsatian

 Dachshund

 Mastino

 Collie

 Greyhound

Additional information

Exercise: how big is the dog?

 Bernese mountain dog

 Chihuahua

 Alsatian

 Dachshund

 Mastino

 Collie

 Greyhound

Challenge

Method



Examples

1 2 3 4 5


Priority Poker works because...

  Priority Poker brings together the different experts and decision makers. These experts make up a „cross-functional“ team uniting all important disciplines, and constitute the best team to set the priorities.

  The active exchange during the poker sessions ensures the information flow and thus leads to a common view of the priorities supported by all parties.

  And it‘s fun!

Priority Poker can be used for (practically) anything!

 Project plans and activities

 Design of road maps

 Release and product planning

 User stories

 Evaluation of ideas and innovation

  ... And much more!

Challenge

Method



Example

1 2 3 4 5


Next steps

 You can order Priority Poker sets at SwissQ. Just call (+41 43 288 88 40) or send an e-Mail ([email protected])

 You want guidance while testing Priority Poker? SwissQ provides you with a moderator for max. 2 hours for free.

References

Mike Cohen, 2005, Agile Estimating and Planning, Prentice Hall International Mike Cohen, Planning Poker for Estimating on Agile Projects, http://www.mountaingoatsoftware.com/topics/planning-poker Ilan Goldstein, Relative Estimation Communication, http://www.scrumshortcuts.com/blog/category/estimation/ Malte Foegen (Wibas), 2006, Planning Poker: A slightly different take on estimating, Power-Point

Introduction Priority Poker for Tester (Englisch)

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Transcript of Introduction Priority Poker for Tester (Englisch)