What is Sprint 0?

Summary

In this video, the speaker critiques the concept of Sprint Zero in Agile development, describing it as a wasteful practice that delays real progress. Instead of spending time on pre-sprint preparations like setting up technology or refining backlogs, the speaker advocates for starting the actual development process sooner. They emphasize the importance of quick feedback from customers and the value of iterating early. Sprint Zero, they argue, often results in unproductive time spent on non-valuable tasks, which ultimately hinders the development process and delays product delivery.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sprint Zero is often used to prepare foundational elements like technology setup and backlogs before starting the actual Agile sprints.
• 😀 The speaker criticizes Sprint Zero, viewing it as a delay tactic that wastes time and doesn’t add value to the development process.
• 😀 Scrum doesn’t require a full backlog to start sprints. You only need enough work to fill one sprint.
• 😀 Starting work earlier, even with an incomplete backlog, is more valuable because it leads to faster feedback and faster iterations.
• 😀 Sprint Zero often delays actual product development without delivering any tangible value to the customer.
• 😀 It's better to start sprints sooner than you feel comfortable to begin the process of 'inspect and adapt.'
• 😀 Scrum doesn't require user stories to start; it only requires that you build a product, which can include tasks like server setup.
• 😀 Waiting for all the pieces to be in place in Sprint Zero can lead to a lack of actual work being done that customers care about.
• 😀 Focus should be on delivering a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and iterating from there, rather than spending time on preparatory tasks.
• 😀 Teams should prioritize delivering something to customers early to get feedback, instead of building up a backlog or doing setup work first.
• 😀 While Sprint Zero may be used by some teams, the speaker doesn’t believe it’s effective and encourages starting sprints as soon as possible.

Q & A

What is Sprint Zero?

Sprint Zero is a phase in Agile project management that is often used to prepare the team for development. This phase is typically focused on setting up infrastructure, establishing a backlog, and completing other preparatory work. However, the speaker criticizes this phase, suggesting that it often delays progress and doesn't add value.

Why does the speaker believe Sprint Zero is unnecessary?

The speaker argues that Sprint Zero is unnecessary because it delays the actual work on the product. Instead of spending time on setup, the team should focus on building a product and receiving early feedback from customers. This helps to identify potential issues and improve the product faster.

What should teams do instead of Sprint Zero?

Instead of spending time on Sprint Zero, the speaker suggests that teams should start developing the product immediately. This includes creating an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) or prototype to test with customers and gather feedback. Early feedback helps refine the product and align it with customer needs.

What is the key benefit of starting development earlier, according to the speaker?

The key benefit of starting development earlier is that it allows teams to gather real customer feedback sooner. This accelerates the process of learning, testing, and adapting, which leads to a product that better meets customer expectations and solves their problems.

How does the speaker view the backlog creation process during Sprint Zero?

The speaker views the creation of a backlog during Sprint Zero as a waste of time. They argue that a team only needs a small portion of the backlog—enough for one sprint—to get started. Spending excessive time analyzing and building a backlog in Sprint Zero is seen as unproductive.

Why does the speaker suggest starting a sprint sooner than comfortable?

The speaker suggests starting a sprint sooner than comfortable because it leads to faster learning and more actionable feedback. By quickly delivering a working product or prototype to customers, teams can test assumptions and make improvements earlier in the process.

What are the risks of spending too much time on Sprint Zero?

Spending too much time on Sprint Zero risks delaying meaningful progress. The team might spend weeks or even months preparing infrastructure or formalizing a backlog, but in doing so, they miss out on the opportunity to create a product and gather real customer feedback.

What is the speaker's opinion on backlog sizing and sign-off during Sprint Zero?

The speaker criticizes the process of backlog sizing and getting sign-offs during Sprint Zero, suggesting that these activities can be completed much faster and with greater value if done in parallel with actual product development. They imply that signing off on a backlog is often an unnecessary step.

What does the speaker recommend for organizations struggling with Scrum?

For organizations struggling with Scrum, the speaker recommends starting sooner and focusing on building a product, rather than getting bogged down in analysis and setup. They emphasize the importance of creating something tangible and testing it with customers.

What is the core message the speaker is conveying about Sprint Zero?

The core message is that Sprint Zero is a hindrance to progress. It wastes valuable time that could be spent developing a product and gathering customer feedback. The speaker advocates for starting product development immediately, even if the backlog is not fully prepared, to start the learning process as quickly as possible.