Project Management Institute (PMI) Professional in Business Analysis Practice Exam

What does the term "Estimable" refer to in the context of user stories?

1. It can be completed quickly

2. It can be prioritized easily

3. It can be accurately estimated in terms of effort

4. It can be validated by stakeholders

The correct answer is: It can be accurately estimated in terms of effort

The term "Estimable" in the context of user stories specifically indicates that a user story can be accurately estimated in terms of the effort required to complete it. This means that the team is able to understand the requirements and complexities of the user story enough to provide a reliable assessment of how much work it would take to implement. When user stories are estimable, they allow for better planning, resource allocation, and risk management within the project. Teams are more effective when they can predict the amount of effort involved, which contributes to more accurate sprint planning and timelines. This characteristic is essential for teams operating in Agile frameworks, where continuous delivery and adaptability are key. While the other options reflect important aspects of user stories—such as being able to complete them quickly, prioritize them, or validate them with stakeholders—these do not encapsulate what it means for a user story to be "estimable." Estimation focuses solely on the team's ability to assess the effort needed rather than the speed of completion, ease of prioritization, or validation by stakeholders.