Scrum guide · Scrum basics
The Scrum Process: Phases and the Sprint Cycle Step by Step
The Scrum process is a repeating cycle. Before the first Sprint, the team sets direction; after that, each Sprint follows the same steps, using the results of the last one to shape the next.
Key takeaways
- Set a vision, Product Goal and initial backlog before starting.
- Each Sprint repeats planning, daily work, review and retrospective.
- Phase models in training materials are teaching aids, not official Scrum.
Before the first Sprint
- Product vision and Product Goal: what the product is for and the next long-term objective.
- Initial Product Backlog: the first set of ordered items, often from a story-mapping workshop.
- Team formation: Product Owner, Scrum Master and Developers.
- Working agreements: Sprint length, Definition of Done, meeting times.
Scrum doesn't define a separate "Sprint zero"; many teams simply start with a first Sprint that also delivers some value.
The Sprint cycle
- Sprint Planning: why the Sprint is valuable, what can be done, how it will be done.
- Daily work and Daily Scrum: building the Increment and adapting the plan each day.
- Product Backlog refinement: preparing upcoming items, as an ongoing activity.
- Sprint Review: inspecting the Increment with stakeholders and adapting the Product Backlog.
- Sprint Retrospective: improving quality and effectiveness.
- Next Sprint begins immediately.
Typical "phases" in training materials
Some training frameworks describe Scrum in five phases: initiate, plan and estimate, implement, review and retrospect, and release. These are a helpful teaching aid but are not part of the official Scrum Guide, in which all activity happens within Sprints.
Scrum workflow on a board
Within each Sprint, work typically flows through columns such as To do, In progress, Review and Done. See Scrum boards.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Sprint cycle in the Scrum process?
The repeating sequence of Sprint Planning, daily work, Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective within one Sprint.
Is there a release phase in the Scrum process?
Not a separate one. Increments can be released at any time, including several times within a Sprint.
What are the steps in the Scrum process?
Create and order a Product Backlog, then run Sprints: Sprint Planning, daily work with a Daily Scrum, Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective. A new Sprint starts immediately after the previous one ends.
Is Sprint Zero part of the Scrum process?
Not officially. Sprint Zero is an informal term for a preparation Sprint before real delivery starts. The Scrum Guide does not define it, and every Sprint, including the first, should aim to produce a usable Increment.
What happens before the first Sprint in the Scrum process?
Typically the team forms, the Product Owner sets a Product Goal and creates an initial Product Backlog, and the team agrees a Sprint length and Definition of Done.
Is the Scrum lifecycle the same as the Scrum process?
Yes, the terms are used interchangeably: a repeating cycle of Sprints, each containing Sprint Planning, Daily Scrums, development, Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective. The product evolves Increment by Increment towards the Product Goal.
Where does backlog refinement fit in the Scrum process?
It is an ongoing activity during the Sprint in which the Scrum Team breaks down and adds detail to upcoming Product Backlog items. See backlog refinement.
What are the five phases of Scrum?
Some training frameworks, such as SBOK, describe initiate, plan and estimate, implement, review and retrospect, and release. These are teaching aids; the official Scrum Guide does not divide Scrum into phases.
How long does the Scrum process take?
There is no fixed end. Sprints continue for as long as the product is developed, and the team may move to a new Product Goal when one is met or abandoned.
Is there a gap between Sprints in the Scrum process?
No. The Scrum Guide says a new Sprint starts immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint.
What are the inputs and outputs of each Sprint in the Scrum process?
The main inputs are the ordered Product Backlog, the latest Increment and the team's capacity. The outputs are one or more usable Increments, an adapted Product Backlog and improvements to how the team works.