Scrum Elevator

Sprint Review

The Sprint Review is a collaborative meeting at the end of each Sprint where the Scrum Team and stakeholders inspect the increment and adapt the Product Backlog based on feedback.

Definition

The Sprint Review is an event in Scrum where the Development Team presents the work completed during the Sprint to stakeholders, discusses progress toward the product goal, and collaborates on adjustments to the Product Backlog.

Explanation

Unlike a traditional status meeting, the Sprint Review is highly interactive and focuses on feedback, learning, and adaptation. The Development Team demonstrates the increment, discusses challenges encountered, and stakeholders provide insights. This allows the Product Owner to reprioritize the backlog and ensures the product evolves based on real user needs and business priorities.

History

Sprint Reviews have been part of Scrum since the earliest Scrum Guides. Originally, they were mainly a demo session for stakeholders. Over time, the emphasis shifted to collaboration, feedback, and backlog adaptation. The 2020 Scrum Guide reinforces this by defining the event as an opportunity for inspection and adaptation of both the increment and the Product Backlog.

Misconceptions

Common misunderstandings include treating the Sprint Review as a mere presentation or status report, focusing only on what went wrong, or excluding stakeholders from meaningful participation. The purpose is to inspect, collaborate, and adapt—not to assign blame or provide a progress report to management.

Modern Relevance

The Sprint Review remains central to Agile product development. It ensures continuous alignment between the Scrum Team and stakeholders, promotes transparency, and allows the product to evolve with market or user feedback. Modern tools like video demos, collaborative boards, and real-time feedback platforms have made Sprint Reviews more interactive and inclusive for distributed teams.

Example

During a Sprint Review for a new e-commerce feature, the Development Team demonstrates the shopping cart functionality. Stakeholders suggest a minor UI adjustment, and the Product Owner decides to reprioritize a related backlog item to address the feedback in the next Sprint. The team discusses technical challenges and plans improvements for future Sprints.

Best Practices

Invite all relevant stakeholders to participate actively. Keep the focus on collaboration, feedback, and backlog adaptation. Prepare a concise demonstration of the increment, highlight key learnings, and facilitate open discussions. Document decisions and update the Product Backlog immediately. For distributed teams, use video conferencing and shared collaborative boards to maximize participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should attend the Sprint Review?

All Scrum Team members and key stakeholders should attend. The Development Team demonstrates the increment, and stakeholders provide feedback to guide future backlog priorities.

How long should a Sprint Review last?

For a one-month Sprint, the Scrum Guide recommends up to 4 hours. Shorter Sprints generally require proportionally shorter reviews, often 1–2 hours.