JIRA Story Point Estimator Skill
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When to Use This Skill
Activate this skill when the user:
- Asks "estimate this ticket" or "how many story points?"
- Asks to "size" or "point" a ticket
- Asks "what should this be pointed at?"
- Wants help with sprint planning estimation
- Asks "is X points right for this ticket?"
- Reviews a ticket that needs story points
Story Point Scale Reference
HyperFleet uses a modified Fibonacci sequence for story points:
| Points | Meaning | Typical Scope | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Tracking Only | Quick/easy task with stakeholder value | Rarely used. For tasks worth tracking but with negligible effort compared to a 1-pointer |
| 1 | Trivial | One-line change, extremely simple task | The smallest issue possible - everything scales from here. No risk, very low effort, very low complexity |
| 3 | Straightforward | Time consuming but fairly straightforward work | Doesn't have to be complex, but usually time consuming. Minor risks possible |
| 5 | Medium | Requires investigation, design, collaboration | Probably needs discussion with others. Can be quite time consuming or complex. Risks involved |
| 8 | Large | Big task requiring investigation and design | Requires collaboration with others. Solution can be quite challenging. Risks are expected. Design doc required |
| 13 | Too Large | Should be split into smaller stories | Ideally, this shouldn't be used. If you see an issue this big, it must be broken down |
Estimation Methodology
Step 1: Fetch Ticket Details
jira issue view TICKET-KEY --plain 2>/dev/nullStep 2: Analyze Complexity Factors
Scope Indicators (examine description and acceptance criteria):
- Number of acceptance criteria
- Number of components/files likely affected
- Integration points mentioned
- Testing requirements
Complexity Indicators:
- New feature vs. modification vs. bug fix
- Requires new patterns or unfamiliar technology
- External dependencies (APIs, services)
- Database/schema changes
- Security implications
- Documentation requirements
Risk Indicators:
- Ambiguity in requirements
- Dependencies on other tickets
- Time-sensitive (blocks other work)
- Requires coordination with other teams
Step 3: Find Similar Historical Tickets
Search for comparable completed tickets:
jira issue list -q"project = HYPERFLEET AND status = Done AND type = Story" --plain 2>/dev/null | head -20jira issue list -q"project = HYPERFLEET AND status = Done AND 'Story Points' is not EMPTY AND type = Story" --plain 2>/dev/null | head -20Step 4: Provide Estimation
Output Format
Estimation for: TICKET-KEY
Summary: [Ticket title] Type: [Story/Task/Bug]
Complexity Analysis
| Factor | Assessment | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | [Small/Medium/Large] | [Description] |
| Technical Complexity | [Low/Medium/High] | [Why] |
| Dependencies | [None/Few/Many] | [List if any] |
| Testing Effort | [Minimal/Moderate/Extensive] | [Why] |
| Risk/Uncertainty | [Low/Medium/High] | [Why] |
Recommendation
Suggested Story Points: X
Confidence Level: [High/Medium/Low]
Reasoning:
- [Primary factor 1]
- [Primary factor 2]
- [Comparison to similar work]
Similar Completed Tickets (for reference)
| Ticket | Summary | Points | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| TICKET-A | [Summary] | 5 | High - similar scope |
| TICKET-B | [Summary] | 3 | Medium - simpler version |
Considerations
- If higher: [What would make this larger]
- If lower: [What would make this smaller]
- Break-down suggestion: [If 13+ points, suggest how to split]
Setting Story Points
Once agreed, set story points using:
jira issue edit TICKET-KEY --custom story-points=X --no-inputOr for Story Point Estimate field (Next-gen projects):
jira issue edit TICKET-KEY --custom story-point-estimate=X --no-inputTeam Calibration Notes
When estimating, consider:
- Team's typical velocity (points completed per sprint)
- Recent similar work and how long it actually took
- Team familiarity with the codebase area
- Current sprint load and focus
Anti-Patterns to Flag
- Anchoring: Don't let existing (wrong) estimates bias you
- Scope Creep: Point what's written, not what might be added
- Hero Estimates: Assume average team member, not expert
- Planning Fallacy: Add buffer for unknowns
- Story Point Inflation: Keep consistent with team baseline