How do you create a sprint backlog?

1 Define the sprint goal

The sprint goal is a concise statement that describes the outcome or value that the team wants to achieve in the sprint. It provides direction and focus for the team and helps them prioritize and select the product backlog items that contribute to the goal. The sprint goal is created by the product owner in collaboration with the Scrum team and the stakeholders during the sprint planning meeting. It should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

2 Estimate the product backlog items

The product backlog items are the features, requirements, enhancements, bugs, or other work items that the product owner wants to deliver to the customers or users. The team needs to estimate the size and complexity of each item to determine how much work they can take on in the sprint. The team can use various techniques to estimate the product backlog items, such as story points, t-shirt sizes, or hours. The team should also consider the dependencies, risks, and uncertainties that may affect the work.

3 Select the product backlog items

The team selects the product backlog items that they can commit to deliver in the sprint based on the sprint goal, the estimated capacity, and the availability of resources. The team should not overcommit or undercommit, but aim for a realistic and achievable scope. The team should also consider the value, urgency, and feasibility of each item and how it aligns with the sprint goal. The product owner has the final say on what items are included in the sprint backlog, but the team has the authority to decide how to implement them.

4 Decompose the product backlog items

The team decomposes the product backlog items into smaller and more manageable tasks that can be completed within a day or less. The tasks are the specific actions or steps that the team needs to perform to deliver the product backlog items. The team can use various tools to decompose the product backlog items, such as user story mapping, acceptance criteria, definition of done, or checklists. The team should also assign a responsible person and an estimated effort for each task.

5 Update and refine the sprint backlog

The sprint backlog is not a static document, but a living artifact that evolves and changes throughout the sprint. The team updates and refines the sprint backlog as they work on the tasks and learn more about the product backlog items. The team can add, remove, or modify the tasks as needed, as long as they do not change the sprint goal or the scope of the product backlog items. The team should also track and monitor the progress and status of the tasks using a visual tool, such as a Scrum board or a burndown chart.

6 Review and inspect the sprint backlog

The team reviews and inspects the sprint backlog regularly to ensure that they are on track to meet the sprint goal and deliver value to the stakeholders. The team uses the daily Scrum meeting to communicate, coordinate, and collaborate on the sprint backlog. The team also uses the sprint review meeting to demonstrate, validate, and get feedback on the product backlog items that they have completed in the sprint. The team also uses the sprint retrospective meeting to reflect, learn, and improve on their sprint backlog creation process.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?