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AGILE SPRINT PREPARATION · Workflow idea

Start sprint planning with clearer stories and fewer last-minute surprises.

Before a scheduled planning session, gather backlog items marked ready or active and check them against the team’s Definition of Ready. Give each story a concise review with gaps to resolve, then prepare a team briefing and optional sprint-goal ideas. Keep the Scrum Master in control of feedback, priorities, and the exact message sent to the team.

Make it yours See how it works ↓
A Roman aqueduct taking shape from architectural sketch to marble.
A little structure. A clearer outcome.
Starts with
A sprint planning session is approaching
Produces
A set of reviewed backlog items with readiness feedback and a proposed team briefing awaiting approval.
Category
Reviews & approvals

01 / The starting point

A clear request.
A useful direction.

A team planning schedule and backlog items approved for review

“Assess candidate stories against agreed readiness criteria and prepare a planning brief for human approval.”
An example request · Make it specific to your team.

02 / The work

5 tasks.
One useful outcome.

Helps Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches prepare for sprint planning by surfacing incomplete stories and bringing relevant work into one review.

  1. Check the team’s planning schedule

    Identify when the next sprint planning session is due and which backlog items should be reviewed.

  2. Gather stories marked for planning

    Bring together relevant ready and active work items with their current status and acceptance details.

  3. Assess each story against team readiness criteria

    Look for clear outcomes, acceptance details, dependencies, and open questions using the team’s agreed standard.

  4. Prepare feedback and possible sprint goals

    Summarize gaps for the team to resolve and offer optional goal ideas without deciding the sprint scope.

  5. Approve the planning brief before it is sent

    Require the Scrum Master to check the story feedback, exact email wording, and team recipients before sending.

03 / The result

Something useful.
Something to build on.

A set of reviewed backlog items with readiness feedback and a proposed team briefing awaiting approval.

AmbactiWorkflow folio · 5 steps

Prepare backlog items for sprint planning

Reviews & approvals · Example outcome

The handoff

A set of reviewed backlog items with readiness feedback and a proposed team briefing awaiting approval.

Keep in mind

Readiness suggestions can overlook team agreements, dependencies, or changes in priority. Keep feedback tied to the original story, let the team correct mistaken assessments, and leave sprint selection and goals to the people planning the work. Require the Scrum Master to approve the exact preparation email and recipient list before it is sent.

04 / Make it yours

Set the brief.
Set the standard.

A few choices shape the work around your team.

Define the planning schedule and backlog scope

Set which planning sessions and work statuses should prompt a readiness review.

Document the Definition of Ready

Provide the team’s actual criteria for story clarity, acceptance, dependencies, and estimation.

Choose how feedback and goals are presented

Specify the review format and make clear that suggested goals are discussion prompts, not final decisions.

Assign planning and email approvers

Name the Scrum Master or delegate who reviews feedback and approves the final brief and recipient list.

Put your next idea to work.

Start with your brief. Make the process your own.

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