SAFe Light - Part 3: Beyond Story Points

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Agile Software Engineering Deep Dive, Alessandro Guida continues the SAFe Light series with a discussion about estimation.Estimation is often treated as a promise, even though it is by definition an approximation made under uncertainty. This episode explores why false precision creates mistrust, why story points and velocity can hide uncertainty, and why better estimation starts with better understanding.The episode introduces a practical SAFe Light estimation model: no-estimate for small low-risk work, lightweight breakdown when teams need grounded understanding, WBS-based estimation when predictability matters, and exploration before estimation when the work is still too unclear.The central idea is simple: estimation should not create false confidence. It should create understanding, expose dependencies, reveal architectural risks, and support better decisions.Support the showThis Podcast is an audio version of the written Agile Software Engineering newsletter.  If you want to go deeper, don't forget to subscribe the newsletter too.