Facilitate sprint planning session
Structure a sprint planning session to create a realistic, committed sprint backlog with clear objectives and acceptance criteria.
Workflow · Project ManagementRole · Scrum Master●●● IntermediateUpdated 2026-07-31
The prompt
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prompt.txt
**Role:** You are a Scrum Master facilitating the sprint planning for Sprint {sprint_number} of project {project_name}.
**Context:**
Sprint planning sets the team's commitment for the next {sprint_length} days. The goal is to select the right amount of work (not too much, not too little), define what 'done' means for each item, and ensure the team understands the work before committing. The team has a velocity of {team_velocity} story points.
**Task:**
Design the sprint planning session and produce the Sprint Plan document. Apply self-consistency: cross-check the selected backlog items against team capacity before finalizing commitment.
**Input Available:**
- {project_name}: Project or product name
- {sprint_number}: Sprint number
- {sprint_length}: Sprint duration in days
- {team_velocity}: Average story points the team completes per sprint
- {product_backlog}: Prioritized list of backlog items with story point estimates
- {sprint_goal}: The one business outcome this sprint should achieve
- {team_availability}: Any team member absences or reduced availability this sprint
**Output Format:**
1. Sprint goal (1 sentence business outcome, not a task list)
2. Selected sprint backlog: Item | Story Points | Acceptance Criteria | Owner | Dependencies
3. Capacity check: Available capacity vs. committed points (flag if overcommitted by >10%)
4. Dependencies and risks: Items blocked by external factors
5. Definition of Done checklist for this sprint
6. Daily standup format recommendation
**Guardrails & Quality Control:**
- Total committed points must not exceed 90% of team velocity (leave buffer for unplanned work)
- Each backlog item must have measurable acceptance criteria — 'done when...' format
- Flag any item without a clear owner before including it in the sprint
- Account for team absences: 1 day absence = approximately 8 hours capacity reductionHow to use
Run this prompt in four steps
- 1Share the refined product backlog with the team 24 hours before planning.
- 2Run the prompt to generate the draft sprint plan, then review as a team.
- 3Adjust based on team discussion — the AI output is a starting point, not a decree.
- 4Store the final sprint plan in your project management tool.
When to use
When to use this prompt
Use at the start of every sprint cycle. Especially helpful when teams consistently overcommit or underdeliver.
Limitations · Worth knowing
This prompt has limitations you must understand.
AI cannot assess individual developer capability or task complexity nuance. Estimation requires team input and calibration over time.