Sprint Planning Meetings - Agile Coach (2019)

Summary

In this episode, Megan Cook, group product manager for Jira Software, guides viewers through the Sprint Planning Ceremony. She emphasizes the importance of starting with a retrospective recap, followed by product updates and planning discussions. The episode highlights setting a clear sprint goal and utilizing average velocity for effective prioritization. Cook advises taking time to thoroughly discuss each story, ensuring clarity on commitments and tasks. Concluding with a recap of next steps fosters accountability within the team. Tune in for more tips on making sprint planning efficient and effective in future episodes.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sprint Planning helps focus execution, minimize surprises, and improve code quality.
• 📋 The Sprint Planning Ceremony includes a retrospective recap, product and marketing updates, and a planning conversation.
• 🔍 The Scrum Master presents relevant action items from the retrospective at the beginning of the meeting.
• 🗣️ The product owner provides updates to ensure the team understands the broader context.
• 🎯 Setting a sprint goal is essential as it guides the development team on the purpose of their work.
• 📊 Using data points, like average velocity, aids in prioritization during sprint planning.
• ⏳ Taking time to discuss each story in detail is crucial; rushing can lead to problems later.
• 🤝 Consensus among team members is important for agreeing on the sprint plan and individual action items.
• ✅ Recapping the plan and confirming tasks helps avoid duplication of work among team members.
• ✨ Tips for making the sprint planning process faster and smoother will be covered in the next episode.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of Sprint Planning?

Sprint Planning helps focus execution, minimize surprises, and guarantee overall higher quality code.

Who is Megan Cook?

Megan Cook is the group product manager for Jira Software at Atlassian.

What are the main components of the Sprint Planning Ceremony agenda?

The agenda includes a retrospective recap, product and marketing updates, and the planning conversation.

What does the Scrum Master present at the beginning of the Sprint Planning?

The Scrum Master presents any relevant action items from the retrospective.

Why are product or market updates important in Sprint Planning?

They ensure everyone is on the same page and understands the broader context of the work.

What is a sprint goal?

A sprint goal is an objective that can be met by implementing stories from the backlog, providing guidance on the purpose of the team's work.

How does average velocity inform Sprint Planning?

Average velocity is the amount of work typically completed in a sprint and helps in prioritization during the planning conversation.

What is the significance of thoroughly discussing stories during Sprint Planning?

Thorough discussion ensures that all aspects of the work are understood and helps prevent rushed decisions, leading to better outcomes.

What should happen at the end of the Sprint Planning session?

The team should recap the plan and confirm each person’s first action item to avoid duplication of work.

What will the next episode cover?

The next episode will provide tips on making the Sprint Planning process go faster and smoother.