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How to Run Effective Sprint Planning for Development Teams?
How to run effective sprint planning for development teams?
Run effective sprint planning by preparing a refined backlog before the meeting, setting a clear sprint goal first, having developers pull work they commit to (not assigning top-down), keeping the meeting under 2 hours, and using historical velocity to guide capacity. Document decisions in NoteVault and create sprint board immediately.
Sprint planning agenda
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 0-10 min | Review previous sprint velocity |
| 10-30 min | Discuss and agree on sprint goal |
| 30-90 min | Select and estimate work |
| 90-110 min | Identify dependencies and risks |
| 110-120 min | Confirm commitment, create board |
Pre-planning checklist:
- Backlog refined - Stories estimated, requirements clear
- Velocity calculated - Average of last 3 sprints
- Capacity known - Account for time off, meetings
- Sprint goal draft - Proposed by product owner
- Board ready - Sprint columns configured
Sprint capacity calculation
CAPACITY PLANNING:
Team size: 5 developers
Sprint length: 10 days
Hours per day: 6 (productive coding time)
Ideal capacity: 5 × 10 × 6 = 300 hours
Adjustments:
- Developer A: 2 days PTO = -12 hours
- Sprint planning/retro: -5 hours per person = -25 hours
- Company meeting: -2 hours per person = -10 hours
Adjusted capacity: 300 - 12 - 25 - 10 = 253 hours
Safety buffer (15%): 253 × 0.85 = 215 hours
Velocity conversion: 215 hours ÷ 4 (hours per point) = 54 points
Sprint planning best practices
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Set goal before selecting work | Select work without a goal |
| Let developers commit | Assign work top-down |
| Use velocity history | Overcommit optimistically |
| Timebox the meeting | Let it run indefinitely |
| Identify dependencies | Ignore blockers |
| Account for unknowns | Assume 100% productivity |
Sprint goal template
# Sprint [X] Goal
**Outcome**: [What users can do after this sprint]
**Why it matters**: [Business value]
**Success criteria**:
- [ ] Criteria 1
- [ ] Criteria 2
- [ ] Criteria 3
**Out of scope**:
- [Explicitly excluded items]
**Risks**:
- [Known risks and mitigation]
Post-planning setup:
- Create sprint board - Move selected tasks to Sprint column
- Update task estimates - If refined during planning
- Assign initial tasks - First tasks developers will start
- Document goal - In NoteVault
- Share with stakeholders - Sprint scope communication
- Set up daily standup - Team Standup dashboard
Common planning mistakes
| Mistake | Prevention |
|---|---|
| No backlog refinement | Separate refinement meeting |
| Overcommitment | Use velocity, not wishful thinking |
| No sprint goal | Goal before task selection |
| Too much time | Timebox strictly |
| Assigned not committed | Developers pull work |