Quick answer
Story points measure relative effort (complexity+risk+work); hours measure duration — points stay stable as the team speeds; use points for velocity, hours only when truly known.
Points
Relative effort — ‘this is a 5 because it’s like the other 5s’; stable unit of comparison.
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Hours
Duration — the honest unit for known work, the misleading one for estimates.
The conversion fallacy
‘1 point = 4 hours’ defeats the point — points exist because hour estimates lie.
Using them
Points for forecasting velocity, hours for actually-known work — don’t translate between them.
Bottom line
Story points measure relative effort (complexity+risk+work); hours measure duration — points stay stable as the team speeds; use points for velocity, hours only when truly known.
FAQ
If this post was helpful, you might also enjoy Free Project Roadmap Template and Project Timeline: How to Create One (Step-by-Step Guide).
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