Skip to main content

sprint goal when team is working on multiple unrelated items

Last post 02:38 pm May 30, 2019 by Timothy Baffa
10 replies
06:38 pm May 26, 2019

One developer in our team is working on code refactoring

2nd developer is working on Analysis of abc

3rd developer is working on analysis of xyz

4th developer (UI) is working on complex UI requirements

In this case, I was not sure how our sprint goal should have been. As above mentioned activities are unrelated unlike delivering a shopping card functionality.

 

So our sprint goal for the current sprint is - :

1. Actionable document after analysis of ABC & XYZ

2. Completing UI for infographics related requirements

 

Need suggestions. What according to you could have been our sprint goal ?

 

 


07:57 pm May 26, 2019

What valuable product increment is the team intending to deliver, and learn from, by the end of the Sprint?


01:30 am May 27, 2019

Hi Ian ,

Apart from UI related product increment there is no other increment as other 3 stories are related to either analysis(of the problem, code etc) or code refactoring. 


03:16 am May 27, 2019

Has the team had a need to collaborate during the Sprint, rather than to work as separate individuals? Has there been a joint focus on learning something for example, or on solving a common problem?


08:08 am May 27, 2019

Great points by Ian. Looking at the Scrum values, is there anything triggering you?


11:13 am May 28, 2019

Has the team had a need to collaborate during the Sprint, rather than to work as separate individuals? Has there been a joint focus on learning something for example, or on solving a common problem?

Ours need is such that we have to start all stories simultaneously. So, we cannot assign multiple development team members for one story. To collaborate they have to work on the same item. Even in our scenario, they do collaborate to the extent possible. For example, the most experienced developers helps them with their knowledge and guidance. However, two junior developers (who are working on analysis stories) cannot collaborate with each other as both are analyzing different code. 

However, my question is when each team member in your team is working on different items just like in our case, creating sprint goal is impossible? How about compound sprint goal as I mentioned in first post ??


12:36 pm May 28, 2019

However, my question is when each team member in your team is working on different items just like in our case, creating sprint goal is impossible? How about compound sprint goal as I mentioned in first post ??

You can have a compound Sprint Goal as long as it makes the selection of work coherent, and gives the team a common sense of purpose and a reason to work together.

If unrelated items can be prioritized for example, then a coherence is effectively introduced around which the team might collaborate. The items become functionally related. The team will action them in a certain order so that value is maximized.

In the situation you describe, where developers work in silos and have no reason to collaborate in such a way, you don't really have a Sprint Goal, or a team which could satisfy one.


03:55 pm May 28, 2019

One developer in our team is working on code refactoring

2nd developer is working on Analysis of abc

3rd developer is working on analysis of xyz

4th developer (UI) is working on complex UI requirements

Vishal, what is the business reason (value) behind doing any of this work?   Why does it need to be done?

My advice is to focus on the why, and not to create a Sprint Goal that simply recaps the tasks the Development Team members are working on.

 

 


12:09 pm May 30, 2019

You can have a compound Sprint Goal as long as it makes the selection of work coherent, and gives the team a common sense of purpose and a reason to work together.

If unrelated items can be prioritized for example, then a coherence is effectively introduced around which the team might collaborate. The items become functionally related. The team will action them in a certain order so that value is maximized.

In the situation you describe, where developers work in silos and have no reason to collaborate in such a way, you don't really have a Sprint Goal, or a team which could satisfy one.

Thanks Ian. This clarifies my doubt.


12:12 pm May 30, 2019

Vishal, what is the business reason (value) behind doing any of this work?   Why does it need to be done?

My advice is to focus on the why, and not to create a Sprint Goal that simply recaps the tasks the Development Team members are working on.

Timothy, the business reason (value) will be provided in next sprint when actual development will be done. But to deliver that value these activities are required.


02:38 pm May 30, 2019

the business reason (value) will be provided in next sprint when actual development will be done. But to deliver that value these activities are required.

Vishal, this represents an incorrect understanding of Scrum.   Dedicating sprints to specific "phases" of value delivery (i.e. - Analysis, Development) is just replicating traditional waterfall phases, and is not Scrum.

Per Scrum Guide:

"The heart of Scrum is a Sprint, a time-box of one month or less during which a "Done", useable, and potentially releasable product Increment is created... Sprints are used to accomplish something. Each Sprint has a goal of what is to be built, a design and flexible plan that will guide building it, the work, and the resultant product increment."

So the question to you is, what can be done within a sprint that actually delivers something (however small) to the end-user that they can validate and provide feedback on?   This would involve any analysis, development, testing, and any other criteria you may have to recognize an item as complete and potentially releasable to production (meeting DoD).

 

 


By posting on our forums you are agreeing to our Terms of Use.

Please note that the first and last name from your Scrum.org member profile will be displayed next to any topic or comment you post on the forums. For privacy concerns, we cannot allow you to post email addresses. All user-submitted content on our Forums may be subject to deletion if it is found to be in violation of our Terms of Use. Scrum.org does not endorse user-submitted content or the content of links to any third-party websites.

Terms of Use

Scrum.org may, at its discretion, remove any post that it deems unsuitable for these forums. Unsuitable post content includes, but is not limited to, Scrum.org Professional-level assessment questions and answers, profanity, insults, racism or sexually explicit content. Using our forum as a platform for the marketing and solicitation of products or services is also prohibited. Forum members who post content deemed unsuitable by Scrum.org may have their access revoked at any time, without warning. Scrum.org may, but is not obliged to, monitor submissions.