Scrum Sprint Planning: How to determine the best duration

Scrum sprint planning meetings are held at the start of the sprint cycle. The product owner and Scrum Master meet with the rest of the team to review the product backlog, answer any questions and set a sprint goal.

Sprint planning meetings are also a good opportunity to determine the duration of the sprint, which is different for every team. Sprints generally last from one to four weeks, but the average sprint is two weeks for most teams. There are advantages and disadvantages to both long and short sprints. Here’s how to choose the appropriate sprint length for your team.

Long sprints, three or four weeks in length, are recommended for development teams who are new scrum and are getting used to the process. Four-week sprints are the standard length that many agile scrum classes teach. The team has two weeks to get feedback on the last sprint and two weeks to plan the next sprint. One benefit of longer sprints is less pressure. But there are also some disadvantages, including a longer turnaround time, more opportunity for procrastination, and less efficient planning and focus.

Short sprints last one or two weeks. One-week sprints, the shortest possible duration, are best suited for teams of one-to-five members. A team with more than five members would work best in two-week sprints. Shorter sprints obviously have a faster turnaround time, but can also improve team planning and collaboration with the client. A faster pace makes  it easier to identify and resolve problems. And frequent retrospectives and reviews allow teams to make small changes earlier in the process, so they can learn and improve.

Learn how Shinetech developers use Agile Practices to ensure successful collaboration between Scrum teams and clients. 

Photo credit: Timo Derstappen