Differentiating Between Units of Work in Agile Projects
There are different units of work associated with Agile projects. Work can be broken as features, epics, user stories, and tasks. You’ll begin estimating the schedule for the project. While you may be accustomed to estimating tasks in measurements like hours or days, the Professional Scrum method involves approaching this differently. Rather than jumping directly into absolute units, you’ll begin estimating the schedule by comparing tasks with each other and assigning units of effort or story points. You’ll examine the process for this in the discussion, along with the benefits of approaching scheduling this way. You’ll also apply this process of scheduling toward your product backlog items.
Define each unit of work and its relationship to the other units. Provide an example that enables you to demonstrate your understanding of the units of work.
Sample Answer
Units of Work in Agile Projects: Definition and Relationships
Agile projects break down work into smaller, manageable units with varying levels of detail. Here’s a breakdown of the key units and their relationships:
Epic:
- Definition: A large, overarching theme or feature representing a significant user need or business goal. It’s often nebulous and requires further refinement.
- Relationship: An epic is further broken down into smaller, more manageable units called user stories.
- Example: “Implement a new e-commerce platform to improve customer experience.”