A sprint is the container of all scrum events or ceremonies that uphold the scrum framework. A sprint is also classified as a scrum event.
Many people interested in product development using agile methodology and scrum framework ask who determines how work is performed during the sprint.
In this article, we will summarize the answer to this question along with other relevant questions related to the scrum framework according to the scrum guide.
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What is a Sprint in Scrum?
A sprint is the heartbeat of the scrum framework where ideas are turned into value. It is also the container event of the other 4 scrum events.
A sprint is a fixed-length event of a month or less. All the work required to achieve the project scope or product scope and goal is done within sprints. This includes sprint planning, daily scrums, sprint review, and sprint retrospective.
Sprints enable predictability and reduced risk by the inspection and adaptation of progress towards the product goal at least every month.
Who Determines How Work Is Performed During The Sprint?
The scrum team is a self-organizing and collaborative team. For each item selected from the Product Backlog, the developers are to plan the work necessary so as to create a product increment that meets the definition of done (DoD).
This is done by decomposition of the selected Product Backlog items into smaller tasks that can be done within a day or less.
The determination of how the decomposition of the Product Backlog items is done and how the work is performed during the sprint is entirely up to the developers’ discretion as no one tells them how to convert the selected Product Backlog items into a product increment within the sprint.
What is the Sprint Length in Scrum?
Sprints just like all scrum events are timeboxed. This means each event has a maximum duration within the sprint.
The scrum rule of thumb is that a sprint should be a maximum of 1 month. Some teams advise a sprint length of 2 weeks.
A sprint should be short enough for rapid feedback and long enough to create a valuable product increment. When a sprint is too long, there is increased risk and complexities may arise.
Shorter sprints help generate more learning cycles and mitigate the risk of effort and cost.
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When Does the Next Sprint Begin?
Sprints run consecutively. Immediately after the first sprint is concluded, the next sprint starts immediately. And from there, each sprint begins immediately after the conclusion of the previous sprint.
When is a Sprint over?
A sprint is over when the sprint timebox ends. Sprints are timeboxed to a fixed time duration. If a sprint length is 2 weeks, then the sprint is over at the end of the 2 weeks.
A team can not decide to end a sprint before the timebox ends even if they have done all the development work.
What is the Sprint Backlog?
The sprint backlog is one of the scrum artifacts. The sprint backlog is a plan by and for the developers of the scrum team.
It is a real-time representation of the work that the development team intends to complete within the sprint to achieve the sprint goal.
The sprint backlog is updated throughout the sprint as much information becomes available to the team.
How Much of the Sprint Backlog Must be Defined?
When planning the sprint, the team may not have all the information required to meet the sprint goal.
Therefore, the sprint backlog is defined just enough so the development team can create the best forecast of what it can do to start the sprint and the first few days of the sprint.
Sprint backlog refinement is done by the team throughout the sprint.
FAQs
Who Owns the Sprint Backlog?
The Sprint Backlog is owned by the Developers and they’re responsible for it. Sprint Backlog is a plan for the sprint by and for the Developers.
Who Manages the Team Work During a Sprint?
The Developers are responsible for managing their own work during a sprint.
Who Owns Product Backlog?
The Product Backlog is owned and managed by the Product owner.
