A sprint goal should be created at the beginning of each sprint, specifically during the sprint planning phase. During this collaborative session, the Scrum team—which includes the Product Owner and Developers—proposes, discusses, refines, and agrees upon a clear, achievable goal that guides the team's work throughout the sprint. Once finalized, the sprint goal is made visible to keep the team aligned and focused on the key deliverable for that sprint.
Key Points about Sprint Goal Creation
- The Product Owner typically prepares a draft sprint goal before the sprint planning meeting.
- The team collaboratively refines the sprint goal during sprint planning for better buy-in.
- The sprint goal provides a focused objective for the sprint and is flexible enough to allow re-alignment if work changes during the sprint.
- It is tied to the sprint duration and connects to the overall product vision and priorities.
Thus, the sprint goal is not created before sprint planning nor at any random time during the sprint—it is a purposeful and collaborative outcome of the sprint planning event that shapes the sprint's direction.
