Timebox Story Pointing: How Long to Discuss Each User Story?
Teams debate one story for 20 minutes while 10 others sit unestimated. Set hard timebox: 5 minutes per story, period.
Recommended Timeboxes
- Simple story (clear requirements): 2-3 minutes
- Standard story: 5 minutes
- Complex/unclear story: 5 minutes, then table for spike or PO clarification
Use Visible Timer
Countdown timer visible to all participants. When time hits zero, facilitator calls vote regardless of consensus.
Alignlee includes built-in story timers for refinement pacing.