Q: Can you compare story points between different teams?

No — because story points are a unitless scale , one story point for one team is not the same as one story point for another. Each team calibrates their scale based on their own codebase, skills, and process. Comparing story points across teams is like comparing two rulers where each team defined their own inch.

Question 1

What are story points in agile?

Accepted Answer

Story points are a unitless measure teams use in agile to estimate the effort required to complete a user story. Instead of estimating in hours, teams assign a value based on relative complexity, size, and risk. A story estimated at 3 points should take roughly three times the effort of a 1-point story.

Question 2

What does relative estimation mean in agile?

Accepted Answer

Relative estimation means comparing the story you're estimating against stories your team has already estimated. Think of it like comparing fruit sizes — you don't weigh each one, you just ask whether a cherry is closer to a strawberry or an apple. This is why story points use the Fibonacci sequence rather than a linear scale: the gaps between values make it easier to place stories quickly.

Question 3

Why are story points unitless?

Accepted Answer

Story points are unitless because they don't correspond to a fixed, universally defined quantity like hours or days. One story point for one team is likely not the same as one story point for another team. This means you cannot compare teams based on story points completed per sprint — each team's scale is calibrated to their own context.

Question 4

How do story points translate to time?

Accepted Answer

Story points don't directly equal hours or days. The connection between story points and time comes through velocity — the number of story points a team completes per sprint. Once a team has a consistent velocity, they can use it to forecast how much work fits into upcoming sprints and estimate delivery timelines.

Question 5

Can you compare story points between different teams?

Accepted Answer

No — because story points are a unitless scale, one story point for one team is not the same as one story point for another. Each team calibrates their scale based on their own codebase, skills, and process. Comparing story points across teams is like comparing two rulers where each team defined their own inch.

What are Story Points? Understanding Story Points for Agile Estimation & Planning

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