How does Smart Guess prevent anchoring?

The fundamental principle when estimating effort is: Prevent anchoring

The fundamental principle in planning poker is to prevent anchoring(cognitive bias). This is because knowing what others think impacts a person's estimate. In Smart Guess, this principle is held in place with the following rule:

Users only see other team-member estimates when they have first selected their own.

How does this principle hold true in Smart Guess?

Let's take an example to see this in action.

1. User opens a story where three team members have given an estimate

Here is what users will see:

Team member's avatars who have joined 'Team planning'
Avatars show a green checkmark, indicating they have selected an estimate
The user who has not given an estimate can only see their card deck

The user who has not given an estimate

Only sees own cards:

Users who have already given an estimate

Only see their cards:

2. When the user joins 'Team planning' - this is what happens:

In real-time, shared with all users
- The user's avatar appears and 'wiggles' - showing who joined

3. When the user selects an estimate - this is what happens:

In real-time, shared with all users
- The user's avatar gets a 'green checkmark' and 'wiggles' - showing who gave an estimate

4. Sharing estimates with team-members

When a user clicks the 'Show estimates' button
In real time, the estimates are shared
- The user's avatar who clicks the button 'wiggles' - showing who performed the action
- All users are shown the 'Team estimates' at the same time

What happens when a new member joins when the team has already shared and started discussing estimates?

1. Let's take an example to see this in action

The user who has not given an estimate

Only sees own cards:

Users who have started discussing their estimates

See the team estimates laid out:

2. Once the user selects an estimate - this is what happens:

As soon as the user gives an estimate
- In real-time
  - The user giving the estimate is transitioned, showing all team-member estimates.
  - The user's avatar who just gave an estimate 'wiggles' - showing who performed the action

Smart Guess