Sprint Planning in Scrum | Agile & Scrum basics explained by Sohrab Salimi

Agile Education by Agile Academy

8 Apr 202203:50

Summary

TLDRThis video offers a comprehensive guide to conducting a successful sprint planning meeting in Scrum. It emphasizes the importance of having a well-prepared product backlog and outlines the three key steps: establishing the sprint goal (the 'why'), selecting items for the sprint backlog (the 'what'), and discussing the technical approach (the 'how'). The video also advises the Scrum Master's role in facilitating the process and suggests the product owner's involvement in the first two steps, while the developers make the final decisions on work commitment.

Takeaways

📅 Sprint Planning Time Box: The maximum time dedicated to a sprint planning meeting is eight hours for a four-week sprint, with shorter sprints having proportionally less time.
👥 Participants: The sprint planning meeting involves the product owner, developers, and the scrum master, with stakeholders invited if they can contribute constructively.
🚫 Scrum Master's Role: The scrum master should intervene if stakeholders challenge the priority set by the product owner and developers during the meeting.
🛠 Preparation: A well-prepared product backlog refinement is crucial for a successful sprint planning meeting.
🎯 Sprint Goal: The 'why' of sprint planning is to establish a sprint goal, which defines the purpose and desired outcome for the customers.
📝 Sprint Backlog Selection: The 'what' involves developers choosing which items from the product backlog to include in the sprint backlog based on their capacity.
🔍 Technical Discussion: The 'how' is a technical discussion among developers to create a shared understanding of how to approach the selected work.
👨‍💻 Developer Authority: It is the developers' decision to determine how much work can be completed within a sprint, not the product owner's.
👀 Product Owner Involvement: The product owner should be present during the first two steps of sprint planning and available for the third step if needed.
🔄 Follow-up Actions: After the sprint planning, there may be follow-up tasks such as gathering feedback from stakeholders or informing them about selected items.
🛑 Stakeholder Behavior: Stakeholders must respect the process and not disrupt the agreed priorities during the sprint planning meeting.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of a sprint planning meeting?
-The primary purpose of a sprint planning meeting is to plan the work for the upcoming sprint, including setting a sprint goal and deciding which items from the product backlog will be included in the sprint backlog.
Who are the typical participants in a sprint planning meeting?
-The typical participants in a sprint planning meeting are the product owner, the developers, and the scrum master. Stakeholders may also be invited if they behave constructively and respect the decisions made during product backlog refinement.
What is the time box for a sprint planning meeting for a four-week sprint?
-The time box for a sprint planning meeting for a four-week sprint is eight hours, which is the maximum amount of time dedicated to the event.
How does the time box for a sprint planning meeting change for a two-week sprint?
-For a two-week sprint, the time box for the sprint planning meeting is usually around four hours, which is proportionately less than for a four-week sprint.
What is the significance of the sprint goal in the context of a sprint planning meeting?
-The sprint goal is significant as it provides the purpose of the sprint, outlining the desired outcome for the customers, rather than focusing on the output or the number of items delivered.
What is the role of the developers in selecting items for the sprint backlog during the sprint planning meeting?
-The developers have the decision-making authority to select which items from the product backlog will be included in the sprint backlog, based on how much work they believe can be accomplished within one sprint.
What is the purpose of the 'how' step in the sprint planning meeting?
-The 'how' step is a technical discussion among the developers to identify and create a shared understanding of how they want to approach the work they have selected to deliver in the particular sprint.
Why might a product owner choose to participate in the 'how' step of the sprint planning meeting?
-A product owner might choose to participate in the 'how' step to be close by and available to answer any questions that arise during the technical discussion, ensuring a clear understanding of the product requirements.
What kind of follow-up work might be necessary after the sprint planning meeting?
-Follow-up work after the sprint planning meeting could include checking for feedback from stakeholders and informing them about which items were selected by the developers for the sprint.
How can a scrum master assist the team in conducting a good sprint planning meeting?
-A scrum master can assist by ensuring that the meeting stays within the time box, facilitating the discussion, and helping to maintain focus on the sprint goal and the selection of items for the sprint backlog.
What should a scrum master do if stakeholders challenge the priority during the sprint planning meeting?
-If stakeholders challenge the priority during the sprint planning meeting, the scrum master should interrupt them and remind them that the meeting is not the place for such discussions, as the priorities were agreed upon during product backlog refinement.

Outlines

00:00

📅 Sprint Planning Meeting Overview

This paragraph introduces the sprint planning meeting, its purpose, participants, and the general time frame. It emphasizes the roles of the product owner, developers, and the scrum master, and the importance of having a well-behaved stakeholder presence. The time box for the meeting is discussed, with an eight-hour limit for a four-week sprint, and a proportional reduction for shorter sprints. The paragraph also touches on the preparation for the meeting, highlighting the significance of a refined product backlog.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Sprint

A sprint in the context of the video refers to a time-boxed period during which a Scrum team works to complete a set of tasks and goals. It is a core concept in the Agile methodology, emphasizing the iterative and incremental delivery of a product. The video discusses how the planning of a sprint is crucial for setting goals and determining the work to be done within the sprint timeframe.

💡Sprint Planning Meeting

The sprint planning meeting is a key event in the Scrum framework where the team, along with the product owner and Scrum master, plan the work for the upcoming sprint. The video emphasizes the importance of this meeting for setting the sprint goal and selecting items from the product backlog to be included in the sprint.

💡Product Owner

The product owner is a role in Scrum responsible for managing the product backlog and ensuring that the team's work aligns with the product vision. In the video, the product owner's role is highlighted in the sprint planning meeting, where they agree on priorities and goals with the developers.

💡Developers

Developers, in the context of Scrum, are the team members responsible for the actual creation of the product. The video mentions that developers have the decision-making authority on how much work they believe can be done within a sprint, selecting items from the product backlog for the sprint backlog.

💡Scrum Master

The Scrum master is a facilitative role in Scrum, responsible for ensuring that the team follows Scrum practices and removes any impediments to their progress. The video script describes the Scrum master's role in the sprint planning meeting, including interrupting stakeholders if they challenge agreed priorities.

💡Stakeholders

Stakeholders are individuals or groups with an interest or concern in the project's outcome. The video mentions that while stakeholders can be invited to the sprint planning meeting, they must behave well and not disrupt the agreed priorities set by the product owner and developers.

💡Time Box

A time box in Scrum refers to a set period of time during which a specific activity is to be completed. The video explains that the sprint planning meeting has a time box, which for a four-week sprint is eight hours, and is proportionately less for shorter sprints.

💡Product Backlog Refinement

Product backlog refinement is a continuous process in Scrum where the product backlog is reviewed, clarified, and prioritized. The video script suggests that a well-prepared product backlog refinement leads to a ready product backlog, which is essential for effective sprint planning.

💡Sprint Goal

The sprint goal is a clear, concise statement that describes the purpose of the sprint and the outcome the team aims to achieve for the customer. The video highlights the sprint goal as a commitment to one of the Scrum artifacts, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the outcome rather than the output.

💡Sprint Backlog

The sprint backlog is a list of items selected from the product backlog that the Scrum team commits to deliver during the sprint. The video describes how developers decide which items to include in the sprint backlog based on their assessment of what can be completed within the sprint.

💡Technical Discussion

Technical discussion in the context of the video refers to the collaborative conversations among developers about how they will approach and execute the work selected for the sprint. The video script indicates that this is an important step in the sprint planning process where developers create a shared understanding of the work to be done.

Highlights

Introduction to the sprint planning meeting and its purpose in planning the upcoming sprint.

Identification of participants in the sprint planning meeting including the product owner, developers, and scrum master.

The optional invitation of stakeholders with the condition of good behavior during the meeting.

The role of the scrum master in maintaining the meeting's focus and interrupting disruptive stakeholders.

Time boxing for sprint planning meetings, with 8 hours allocated for a four-week sprint and proportionately less for shorter sprints.

The importance of a well-prepared product backlog refinement as a prerequisite for sprint planning.

Division of the sprint planning into three steps: why, what, and how.

Explanation of the 'why' step leading to the sprint goal and its significance as a commitment to the sprint backlog.

Clarification of the 'what' step, where developers select items from the product backlog for the sprint.

Emphasis on the developers' decision-making authority in determining the work for the sprint.

Description of the 'how' step as a technical discussion among developers to create a shared understanding of the work approach.

Recommendation for the product owner to be involved in the first two steps of sprint planning.

Suggestion for the product owner to stay available during the 'how' step for potential questions from the team.

Potential follow-up work after sprint planning, such as feedback checks and stakeholder communication.

The role of the scrum master in facilitating a good sprint planning process for the team.

Concluding remarks summarizing the video's content on sprint planning and the scrum master's assistance.