The Sprint Backlog is a set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint, plus a plan for delivering the product Increment and realizing the Sprint Goal. It is a forecast by the Development Team about what functionality will be in the next Increment and the work needed to deliver that functionality into a “Done” Increment.
Key Aspects of a Sprint Backlog
- Owned by the Development Team – While it is created during Sprint Planning with the Product Owner, the Development Team owns the Sprint Backlog. They can modify it throughout the Sprint as they learn more about the work.
- A Plan for the Sprint – It is not just a list of tasks but a real-time picture of the work the team plans to accomplish during the Sprint.
- Highly Visible – It is often represented on a physical or digital task board, providing transparency on the team’s progress toward the Sprint Goal.
- Emergent – The Sprint Backlog is updated throughout the Sprint as the team works through the plan. New tasks may be added, and existing tasks may be modified or removed.
What’s in a Sprint Backlog?
The Sprint Backlog has three main components:
| Component | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| The Sprint Goal | A single, high-level objective for the Sprint. It provides guidance to the Development Team on why it is building the Increment. | Provides focus and flexibility. If the work turns out to be different than expected, the team can collaborate to achieve the Sprint Goal. |
| Selected PBIs | The set of Product Backlog Items (PBIs) selected from the Product Backlog for the current Sprint. | Defines the “what” – the scope of work that the team forecasts it can complete. |
| The Actionable Plan | A detailed plan of the work needed to turn the selected PBIs into a “Done” product Increment. This is often broken down into smaller tasks. | Defines the “how” – the specific tasks the Development Team will perform. |
Example Scenarios
Sprint Goal: “Implement Basic Checkout”
During Sprint Planning, a Scrum team selects three PBIs from the Product Backlog: “Add item to cart,” “Enter shipping address,” and “Enter payment info.” They then break these down into smaller tasks like “Design the address form UI,” “Create the payment processing API,” and “Write unit tests for the cart.” These PBIs and tasks, along with the Sprint Goal, form the Sprint Backlog.
Daily Stand-up
During a Daily Stand-up meeting, a developer mentions that a task is more complex than expected. The Development Team decides to modify their plan by breaking the task into smaller pieces. This change is immediately reflected in the Sprint Backlog.
Why The Sprint Backlog Matters
- Creates a Detailed Plan – It translates the high-level goals of the Product Backlog into an actionable plan for the Development Team for the current Sprint.
- Promotes Team Ownership – Because the Development Team creates and owns it, it fosters a sense of commitment and self-organization.
- Provides Transparency – It makes the team’s work and progress visible to everyone, which is essential for the Daily Stand-up.
- Enables Tracking and Forecasting – It is the primary tool for tracking progress within a Sprint, often through the use of burndown or burnup charts.
See also: Product Backlog, Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-up, Scrum, Development Team.