I recently concluded my PSM 1 training from Agilemania with Piyush being the instructor. I have had multiple trainings before but this one was very different - Good different. For many reasons : 1. Piyush’s content delivery was by far the best I have seen. This tells he has done this many times or to be short, is an expert at this. 2. Unique way to present. I won’t break the surprise but there were no slides or ppt's during the training. And yet, it was so engaging, I felt as active throughout as at the start. This also gave me inspiration to do something different when it comes to your presentation. 3. Different types of activities in breakout rooms. This gave me the opportunity to interact with fellow trainees like myself who were there to learn. You got to try out those. P.S. - there will be always a catch. 4. Full of real life examples. Piyush gave real life examples from his experience that helped me to understand the concepts better. 5. Lastly, there were optimum breaks in 2 days that helped me to remain focused throughout. When I was choosing the trainer for PSM 1 from Scrum.org, I read a lot of reviews for many trainers. I chose Agilemania after careful evaluation. I was right. Hope this honest review helps others in line.
Sprint planning is the crucial kickoff event in a Scrum sprint. It sets the stage for what the team aims to achieve and how they'll work together to meet those goals. Here's a condensed guide to sprint planning and how to make it effective.
What is Sprint Planning?
Sprint planning is a collaborative meeting where the Scrum team defines the sprint goal, forecasts work, and creates a plan to deliver value. For a monthly sprint, the meeting can last up to 8 hours, but shorter sprints typically have shorter planning sessions.Steps to Effective Sprint Planning
-
Preparation
- Product Owner: Present a clear business objective and an ordered product backlog.
- Scrum Team: Review the product goal, backlog, and current progress to align on priorities.
-
Define the Sprint Goal
- Establish a focused and achievable sprint goal that aligns with the product vision.
-
Select and Prioritize Backlog Items
- Discuss and choose high-priority items from the backlog based on business value, dependencies, and team capacity.
-
Break Down Work
- Decompose selected items into smaller, manageable tasks to clarify responsibilities and ensure feasibility.
-
Assign Tasks and Set Timelines
- Team members pick tasks based on their expertise. Flexibility is crucial to adapt to unforeseen changes.
-
Collaborate and Finalize
- Review the plan as a team to ensure clarity and buy-in. Use tools like whiteboards for in-person meetings or platforms like Jira and Zoom for remote collaboration.
Sprint planning fails for many reason, if you don't want to happen this with you - make sure you read our blog on 'Why Sprint Planning Fails'
Sprint planning is not just about assigning tasks—it’s about alignment. It ensures everyone understands the goals, roles, and timeline, fostering a clear path for delivering high-quality results.
With a solid sprint plan, your team is ready to hit the ground running. Happy planning!
For more detailed information, read our blog on 'Effective strategies for Sprint Planning'
Key Principles of Sprint Planning
- 1Commitment to Quality: Quality standards must never be compromised.
- 2Adaptability: The scope can be clarified or renegotiated during the sprint, but without risking the Sprint Goal.
- 3Time-Boxing: Each sprint should last no more than a month, ensuring frequent delivery of value.
Why Sprint Planning Matters?
Sprint planning ensures the team starts each sprint with clarity, focus, and a shared purpose. By breaking down work into smaller chunks, it enables frequent delivery of value, fosters accountability, and enhances collaboration.
Before we end, we recommend you to read our blog on Do's and Dont's of Sprint Planning.
Ready to enhance your Sprint Planning? Empower your team to achieve more with each sprint!
