Planning Poker

General Information

You can access Planning Poker mode via top navigation:

Sequence of a Game

  1. Create a game
    1. Enter needed data
    2. Import issues from JIRA
    3. Start game
    4. Ask participants to join
  2. Play game
    1. Pick an issue to estimate from the backlog
    2. Start a round by clicking on the "Estimate"
    3. Let everyone cast a vote by playing a card
    4. Analyse results
    5. Finish round, start another by picking the next issue
    6. Export results to JIRA when everything is estimated

 

Roles

Three roles are available for Planning Poker mode:

  • Administrator
  • Participant
  • Watcher

Administrator

Whoever creates a game automatically becomes administrator of that game.

Game administrator has access to special actions, such as:

  • Start a countdown timer
  • Finish round
  • Open all cards
  • Move issue to the end of the backlog
  • Remove issue from the backlog
  • Export estimation results to JIRA

Participant

Whoever joins a game becomes a participant.

Participants are displayed in the list of current players and are required to cast their votes.

Watcher

It is possible to join a game as a watcher, just to observe.

As the role suggests, watchers are not displayed in the list and they can't cast votes.

Creating a Game

To create a game click on the appropriate button:

A form for the new game will appear. 

All fields are self-explanatory.

In the "JQL" field you need to specify a JQL filter from your JIRA instance.

All issues from that filter will be imported.

Tip

It is easier to copy the existing JQL from the JIRA Search

 

You can remove some of them if necessary:

 

Once you are satisfied with the estimation backlog, click "Start".

Joining a Game

To join a game click "Play" button.

You will join a game as Administrator in case you are the owner, otherwise—as Participant.

If you wish to join a game as a Watcher—click "Watch".

Playing a Game

Picking an Issue to Estimate

Once the game is started, you'll see the estimation backlog:

Other participants (thecatontheflat on the screenshot) will see the same list but without "Estimate" button.

You have to pick the next ticket for estimation. If you decided which one—click "Estimate".

Active Round

Once a story is picked, you'll see the screen below (normal Participants see less buttons, current screen is for Administrator role). See the explanation chapter for more details.

During this phase every participant has to play a card.

Finished Round

Once all participants played casted their votes, the cards will be opened automatically.

The Administrator can now set the estimation for this issue.

Exporting Results

Once all issues are estimated (or if the game was forced to end by the Administrator), the Administrator can export results to JIRA.

It is possible to choose a JIRA field to which an estimate should be exported (it is added as comment by default).

Admin Actions

Top Menu Actions

Change Game Owner

Sometimes it happens that the game creator has to leave the current estimation session.
In such situation it is possible to change the game admin, therefore another participant could moderate the game.

Move Current Issue to the End of the Backlog

In case you want to estimate something later (due to a low priority or unclear requirements) you can shift it to the end of the estimation backlog.

Remove Current Issue from the Backlog

As the name suggests, it is possible to completely remove the issue from the estimation backlog.

Finish Game

That is, finished the current game and opens the Export Screen.

In-Round Actions

Force Finish

Finishes the current round and opens all cards on the table without waiting for others to cast their votes.

Start Timer

Starts a countdown by the end of which all the cards are automatically open and the round is finished without waiting for the others to cast their votes.

End of Round Actions

Set Estimation

As name the name suggests—sets an estimation to the issue and moves to the next backlog item.

Replay Round

When there is a big difference in the votes, you can replay the round.