Question

A Product Owner wants a story to be completed in four days. The Development Team working on the Story reckons it will take seven days. The Scrum Master feels it should take five days. A subject matter expert, who has worked on similar Stories in the past, thinks it should take a maximum of three days. Whose estimate should be used from planning?

The Development Team's
The Scrum Master's
The Subject Matter Expert's
The Product Owner's

Answer 1

The Development Team's estimate should be used for planning as they are the ones who will directly engage with the task and best understand the complexities involved.

Step-by-step explanation:

When deciding on which estimate should be used for planning in a Scrum framework, it is typically the Development Team's estimate that is taken into consideration. Their estimate reflects the team's understanding of the work required and their ability to deliver the feature within a specific timeframe. The Scrum Master and the Subject Matter Expert, although they provide valuable insights, do not directly contribute to the execution of the tasks. The Product Owner prioritizes the work but does not estimate the effort required to complete the tasks.

What is key here is the principle that the people doing the work are best placed to estimate how long the work will take. This is because they have a detailed understanding of the complexities and the work involved in implementing the user story. The Scrum Master's role includes facilitating the process, and the Subject Matter Expert may offer guidance on technical aspects or historical data, but ultimately the time estimate comes down to those who will engage with the task directly.