The High Noon Estimator’s Showdown: Agile Estimation Techniques for Real-World Teams
The High Noon Estimator’s Showdown: Agile Estimation Techniques for Real-World Teams
By Dr. Casey LaFrance, PMP
Saddle up, Agile partner. Estimation ain’t guesswork — it’s the art of wrangling work with courage, clarity, and collaboration.
In The High Noon Estimator’s Showdown, Dr. Casey LaFrance blends Wild West storytelling, proven Agile practices, and cutting-edge estimation methods to teach you how to size, forecast, and guide work in any Agile environment — from Scrum and SAFe to LeSS, Nexus, and Amplio.
This full-length professional guide includes:
Real-world estimation techniques (Planning Poker, Bucket Sizing, Affinity, Delphi, and more)
Framework-specific guidance (Scrum, SAFe, LeSS, Nexus, Amplio)
Troubleshooting tips using Human-Centered Design and Jobs-To-Be-Done (JTBD)
Expert advice from Tom Gilb’s Planguage and Impact Estimation Tables
Workshop layouts with facilitator scripts, participant templates, and mnemonics
A full short story: “The High Noon Estimator’s Showdown” — a vivid metaphor for Agile teams under pressure
Whether you're a Scrum Master, PMI-ACP® candidate, Agile coach, or Product Owner, this guide helps you estimate better — and lead estimation sessions with confidence, clarity, and grit.
🗂️ Table of Contents
# Section Title
Prologue The High Noon Estimator’s Showdown — A Story of Planning Poker in Kanban Gulch
1 Introduction: What Is Agile Estimation?
2 Mindset First: Estimation vs. Prediction
3 Why We Estimate in Agile (Not for Deadlines)
4 Foundational Techniques
4.1 Planning Poker
4.2 T-Shirt Sizing
4.3 Affinity Estimation
4.4 Wideband Delphi
4.5 Bucket Estimation
4.6 Ideal Time (and When to Avoid It)
5 Estimation Patterns and Anti-Patterns
6 Framework-Specific Estimation Guidance
6.1 Scrum
6.2 SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)
6.3 LeSS (Large Scale Scrum)
6.4 Nexus (Scrum.org SPS)
6.5 Amplio (Al Shalloway’s Framework)
7 Metrics That Support Estimation
7.1 Velocity
7.2 Cycle Time
7.3 Lead Time
7.4 Throughput
7.5 WIP Limits
8 The Wisdom of Crowds in Estimation
8.1 Large Room Planning and Normal Distribution
9 Tom Gilb’s Estimation Advice
9.1 Front-Loading Value
9.2 Impact Estimation Tables
9.3 Planguage Metrics and Size Definition
10 Human-Centered Design + JTBD in Estimation
10.1 Troubleshooting Estimation Sessions
10.2 Jobs-To-Be-Done View of Backlogs
11 Everyday Mnemonics, Phrases, and Analogies
12 Workshop Design & Facilitator Script
13 Participant Templates and Reflection Tools
Saddle up, Agile partner. Estimation ain’t guesswork — it’s the art of wrangling work with courage, clarity, and collaboration. In The High Noon Estimator’s Showdown, Dr. Casey LaFrance blends Wild West storytelling, proven Agile practices, and cutting-edge estimation methods to teach you how to size, forecast, and guide work in any Agile environment — from Scrum and SAFe to LeSS, Nexus, and Amplio. This full-length professional guide includes: Real-world estimation techniques (Planning Poker, Bucket Sizing, Affinity, Delphi, and more) Framework-specific guidance (Scrum, SAFe, LeSS, Nexus, Amplio) Troubleshooting tips using Human-Centered Design and Jobs-To-Be-Done (JTBD) Expert advice from Tom Gilb’s Planguage and Impact Estimation Tables Workshop layouts with facilitator scripts, participant templates, and mnemonics A full short story: “The High Noon Estimator’s Showdown” — a vivid metaphor for Agile teams under pressure Whether you're a Scrum Master, PMI-ACP® candidate, Agile coach, or Product Owner, this guide helps you estimate better — and lead estimation sessions with confidence, clarity, and grit. 🗂️ Table of Contents # Section Title Prologue The High Noon Estimator’s Showdown — A Story of Planning Poker in Kanban Gulch 1 Introduction: What Is Agile Estimation? 2 Mindset First: Estimation vs. Prediction 3 Why We Estimate in Agile (Not for Deadlines) 4 Foundational Techniques 4.1 Planning Poker 4.2 T-Shirt Sizing 4.3 Affinity Estimation 4.4 Wideband Delphi 4.5 Bucket Estimation 4.6 Ideal Time (and When to Avoid It) 5 Estimation Patterns and Anti-Patterns 6 Framework-Specific Estimation Guidance 6.1 Scrum 6.2 SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) 6.3 LeSS (Large Scale Scrum) 6.4 Nexus (Scrum.org SPS) 6.5 Amplio (Al Shalloway’s Framework) 7 Metrics That Support Estimation 7.1 Velocity 7.2 Cycle Time 7.3 Lead Time 7.4 Throughput 7.5 WIP Limits 8 The Wisdom of Crowds in Estimation 8.1 Large Room Planning and Normal Distribution 9 Tom Gilb’s Estimation Advice 9.1 Front-Loading Value 9.2 Impact Estimation Tables 9.3 Planguage Metrics and Size Definition 10 Human-Centered Design + JTBD in Estimation 10.1 Troubleshooting Estimation Sessions 10.2 Jobs-To-Be-Done View of Backlogs 11 Everyday Mnemonics, Phrases, and Analogies 12 Workshop Design & Facilitator Script 13 Participant Templates and Reflection Tools