Sprint planning often happens when the team is short on time and under pressure to deliver.
Backlogs are long, priorities keep changing, and it is not always clear how much work the team can realistically take on.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to turn sprint planning process into a clear, repeatable workflow. You will see how to define achievable sprint goals, choose the right scope, and create a plan your team can realistically deliver.
And you can use GoodDay’s free sprint planning template to structure your work, plan upcoming sprints, and run sprint cycles with clarity.
What is sprint planning?
Sprint planning is a Scrum meeting where the team decides what work will be done in the next sprint and how it will be completed.
During this session, the team sets a clear sprint goal, selects items from the product backlog, breaks them into tasks, and estimates the effort based on team capacity.
The outcome is a shared plan that guides the team’s work throughout the sprint.
Key steps for sprint planning
Sprint planning works best when the team follows a clear sequence instead of trying to decide everything at once.
1) Set the stage (before the meeting)
- Product owner preparation: Ensure the product backlog is prioritized and refined (items are clear and estimated).
- Team readiness: Review the definition of done and understand the team’s capacity (accounting for holidays/time off) and historical velocity.
2) The sprint planning meeting (the “what” and “how”)
- Define the sprint goal: Discuss why the sprint is valuable and agree on a single, unifying goal.
- Select backlog items: The team pulls high-priority items from the product backlog that align with the Sprint goal and fit within capacity.
- Break down tasks: Decompose selected stories into smaller, actionable subtasks (ideally 1-2 days of work).
- Estimate & commit: The development team signs up for tasks, estimates them (e.g., story points), and commits to the work.
- Identify dependencies & risks: Note any blockers or external factors and plan how to manage them.
- Confirm the plan: Get group consensus that the plan is realistic and achievable.
3) After the meeting
- Launch the sprint: Start working on the committed tasks, using the sprint goal as a guide.
- Adapt: The plan is a guideline; be ready to adjust as new information emerges, focusing on the sprint goal.
Key outputs of sprint planning
A successful sprint planning session ends with clear outcomes that guide the team throughout the sprint. The key outputs of sprint planning include:
- A clearly defined sprint goal that aligns the team around a shared objective
- A selected set of backlog items the team commits to delivering
- A breakdown of work into actionable tasks with rough effort estimates
- A realistic sprint plan that reflects team capacity and known constraints
Together, these outputs give the team focus, direction, and a practical plan to follow during the sprint.
Key principles of sprint planning
Effective sprint planning is guided by a few core principles that help teams make realistic commitments and stay aligned throughout the sprint. Key principles of sprint planning include:
Focus on a clear sprint goal rather than a long list of tasks
A clear sprint goal helps the team understand the purpose behind the work, not just the tasks themselves. It guides decision-making during the sprint and keeps everyone aligned when priorities need to be adjusted.
Plan based on real team capacity, not ideal assumptions
Effective sprint planning accounts for actual availability, past performance, and expected interruptions. This helps the team commit to work they can realistically complete without unnecessary stress.
Choose fewer items and finish them well instead of overcommitting
Taking on less work increases the likelihood of completing it to a high standard. Consistently finishing planned items builds trust and creates a steady, predictable delivery rhythm.
Keep estimates lightweight and useful, not overly detailed
Estimates should support planning, not become the focus of the discussion. Simple, high-level estimates are often enough to make good decisions without slowing the team down.
Treat the sprint plan as a shared team commitment
Sprint planning works best when the entire team agrees on the plan. Shared ownership encourages collaboration, accountability, and smoother execution throughout the sprint.
GoodDay – sprint planning software you can rely on
GoodDay is a popular sprint planning software that supports the full sprint lifecycle, from early backlog planning to coordinated delivery across multiple teams. It is featured in 12 Capterra shortlists as a top-rated project management platform.
Teams of all sizes use GoodDay, from startups to large enterprises, including Fortune 500 companies. The platform includes ready-to-use templates, multiple views (such as advanced Gantt charts and Kanban boards), unlimited project hierarchy, and built-in time tracking.
You can use GoodDay’s free sprint planning template to see how it can support your work.
If you have questions about choosing the right sprint planning software for your team, you can contact our team at info@goodday.work
FAQs
What are the 5 stages of sprint?
The five stages of a sprint are sprint planning, daily work, sprint review, sprint retrospective, and preparation for the next sprint. The sprint planning meeting defines the sprint goal and creates the sprint backlog. During the sprint, the scrum team works on selected backlog items until the sprint ends. The cycle closes with review and reflection before the new sprint begins.
What are the three parts of sprint planning?
Sprint planning has three main parts: setting the sprint goal, selecting work from the product backlog, and planning how the work will be done. The product owner proposes priorities based on customer needs and business value. The development team discusses feasibility and creates sprint backlog items. This sprint planning session ensures shared understanding before work starts.
How do you run a sprint planning?
You run sprint planning by bringing together the entire scrum team for a focused planning meeting. The team reviews the previous sprint, checks team availability, and confirms what is up to date in the product backlog. Developers plan tasks, estimate effort, and confirm the definition of done. Sprint planning addresses scope, risks, and how to achieve the sprint goal.
What tool is used for sprint planning?
Teams use sprint planning tools that support backlog management, sprint tracking, and collaboration. The best tools allow agile teams to manage user stories, sprint backlog, and story point estimates in one place. GoodDay stands out by combining planning, execution, and reporting in a single platform. It works well for both in-office and remote teams.
What does a successful sprint look like?
A successful sprint delivers a sprint valuable outcome aligned with customer value. The team achieves the sprint goal and completes committed backlog items. Sprint success is reviewed in a sprint review meeting with stakeholder feedback. Teams measure success by delivery quality, predictability, and learning.
How to start a sprint properly?
A sprint starts properly when sprint planning preparation is done in advance. The product backlog should be refined, prioritized, and ready before the planning meeting. The scrum master ensures the sprint planning fits within time limits, often up to eight hours for a two week sprint. When the sprint begins, the whole scrum team shares a clear sprint commitment.
What does sprint planning look like?
Sprint planning looks like a structured discussion focused on goals, scope, and execution. The planning meeting includes decomposing product backlog items into tasks and clarifying responsibilities. The entire sprint is planned with awareness of team’s velocity and past sprints. The outcome is a realistic plan the team believes it can deliver.
How to improve sprint planning?
You improve sprint planning by learning from the last sprint and previous sprint review insights. Teams apply process improvements based on sprint retrospective outcomes. Strong team collaboration and clear communication reduce misunderstandings. Over time, the team learns to balance ambition with realism.
For a product team using agile methodologies, which platforms best support sprints, product backlog items, and story point estimation?
Product teams need platforms that support agile methodologies, scrum artifacts, and backlog management. The best tools allow clear backlog items organization, estimation, and sprint planning events. GoodDay supports the scrum framework end to end, from backlog refinement meeting to sprint review. It helps product teams maintain shared understanding and consistent delivery.
What are the best task management tools for daily scrum framework workflows?
The best task management tools support daily execution within the scrum framework. They allow scrum team members to track work during the current sprint and coordinate easily. GoodDay enables sprint tracking, visibility, and accountability across software development teams. It is especially effective for teams that want one system for planning, execution, and reporting.
