What is a sprint and how long should it be?

Question

Accepted Answer

**Sprint** — time-boxed iteration in Scrum.

**Duration:**
- Typically 1-4 weeks.
- Most common: 2 weeks.
- Must be consistent length.

**Sprint activities:**
1. Sprint Planning — plan work.
2. Daily Development — do the work.
3. Sprint Review — demo to stakeholders.
4. Sprint Retrospective — improve process.

**Rules:**
- No changes during sprint.
- Quality goal must be met.
- Work must be potentially shippable.

**Sprint length considerations:**
```
1 week: Fast feedback, less planning overhead
2 weeks: Balance of speed and stability
3 weeks: More complex work, less frequent ceremonies
4 weeks: Maximum complexity, more risk
```

**Benefits:**
- Regular delivery.
- Predictable cadence.
- Continuous improvement.

Business Analyst: What is a sprint and how long should it be?