Release Planning Meeting

Start the workshop by introducing the purpose of the release planning meeting. Explain that the goal is to plan which items will be included in the upcoming release and establish a rough timeline. Emphasize the importance of collaboration and communication throughout the meeting.

Tips : Encourage active participation and create a safe and inclusive environment for all participants to share their ideas and opinions.

Outcome : Participants will understand the purpose of the release planning meeting and the goals for the workshop.

Review the current backlog of user stories, features, and tasks. Discuss the priority of each item and identify any dependencies or constraints. Encourage the team to ask questions and provide input on the backlog items.

Tips : Use visual aids such as a Kanban board or a backlog management tool to facilitate the discussion and keep track of the backlog items.

Outcome : Participants will have a clear understanding of the current backlog and its priority.

Facilitate a discussion to identify the goals and objectives for the upcoming release. Encourage the team to consider the needs of the stakeholders, market trends, and business priorities. Document the release goals to refer back to during the planning process.

Tips : Encourage creativity and innovation during the goal-setting process. Ensure that the goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Outcome : Participants will have a clear understanding of the goals and objectives for the upcoming release.

Break down the backlog items into smaller tasks or user stories. Estimate the effort required for each item and identify any dependencies between them. Use techniques such as planning poker or affinity estimation to facilitate the estimation process.

Tips : Encourage collaboration and consensus during the estimation process. Remind the team to consider factors such as complexity, uncertainty, and team capacity when estimating effort.

Outcome : Participants will have estimated effort for each backlog item and identified dependencies.

Based on the estimated effort and dependencies, facilitate a discussion to prioritize the backlog items. Consider the release goals, business value, and urgency when prioritizing. Use techniques such as MoSCoW prioritization or value vs. effort matrix to aid the decision-making process.

Tips : Encourage open and transparent communication during the prioritization process. Remind the team to consider the impact of each item on the overall release goals.

Outcome : Participants will have a prioritized backlog based on estimated effort and dependencies.

Based on the prioritized backlog and estimated effort, work with the team to create a release timeline. Consider factors such as team capacity, resource availability, and any external dependencies. Document the release timeline to share with stakeholders and track progress.

Tips : Encourage the team to be realistic and consider potential risks or uncertainties when creating the release timeline. Regularly communicate and update the timeline as the project progresses.

Outcome : Participants will have a release timeline that outlines the sequence of backlog items and their estimated completion dates.

Conclude the workshop by summarizing the key decisions and next steps. Ensure that all participants are aligned on the release goals, prioritized backlog, and release timeline. Assign action items and responsibilities for further refinement and execution.

Tips : Encourage accountability and follow-up on the assigned action items. Provide a platform for participants to ask any final questions or provide feedback on the workshop.

Outcome : Participants will have a clear understanding of the key decisions made during the workshop and the next steps for release planning.