What are the questions the sprint planning answers select two?
Sprint planning is a crucial activity in Agile project management, where the team comes together to define the work that will be accomplished during the upcoming sprint. The primary goal of sprint planning is to answer two critical questions that guide the team’s efforts and ensure the project stays on track. In this article, we will explore these two questions and how they shape the sprint planning process.
The first question that sprint planning answers is: “What are the highest priority items from the product backlog that we can commit to delivering by the end of the sprint?” This question helps the team to select the most valuable features or user stories that should be worked on during the sprint. By prioritizing the backlog items, the team ensures that they focus on delivering the most important aspects of the project first.
To address this question, the product owner reviews the product backlog and presents the top items to the team. The team then discusses the feasibility of completing these items within the sprint’s timeframe. They consider factors such as the complexity of the work, dependencies, and the team’s capacity. Through this collaborative process, the team selects the items they believe they can successfully deliver by the end of the sprint.
The second question that sprint planning answers is: “How will we organize and execute the work to achieve the sprint goal?” Once the team has identified the items they will work on, they need to plan how to execute the work effectively. This involves breaking down the selected items into smaller tasks, estimating the effort required for each task, and allocating resources accordingly.
During the sprint planning meeting, the team discusses the best approach to tackle the tasks. They may decide to use specific methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban, to manage their work. They also consider any risks or obstacles that may arise and develop contingency plans to mitigate them. By answering this question, the team ensures that they have a clear plan for executing the work and are well-prepared to face any challenges that may come their way.
In conclusion, sprint planning answers two critical questions: what to do and how to do it. By addressing these questions, the team can focus on delivering the most valuable features and effectively manage their work within the sprint’s timeframe. This ensures that the project stays on track and meets the expectations of stakeholders. Therefore, understanding these questions and their implications is essential for successful sprint planning and Agile project management.
