What is Release Planning in Scrum: The Way to Deliver Project on Time

What is Release Planning in Scrum: The Way to Deliver Project on Time

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13 min read

Did you know that 20% of all businesses in the US fail within the first year?

The success of any project is dependent on the planning process. Whether you build an MVP for your startup or develop a huge enterprise application, you can drastically increase the chances for success if you spend time and money on business analysis activities and planning. The plan itself may seem like a simple task, but it is imperative that the plan be well thought out and executed. Furthermore, one must take into account the various factors which can affect the success of their project: deadlines, team members' availability or lack thereof, priorities to name just a few. All these considerations need to be taken into account when constructing a release plan in order to ensure its ultimate goal-success.

In this article, we will be dealing with release planning, and specifically the Scrum system.

people making release planning in scrum

Lack Of Planning and Its Issues

In any company, it's important to have a good release planning process in place which is also called the Discovery Phase. This helps ensure that new releases are smooth and don't cause any major disruptions to normal operations. Unfortunately, many companies don't have a good release planning process in place, which can lead to all sorts of problems.

One common issue is that new releases can often be disruptive to normal operations. If a company doesn't have a good release planning process, it can be difficult to coordinate and execute new releases in a way that doesn't cause any major disruptions. This can lead to frustration among employees and customers alike.

Another common issue is that new releases can often be buggy. If a company doesn't have a good release planning process, it can be difficult to properly test new releases before they go live. This can lead to a lot of headaches for employees and customers alike as they deal with buggy software.

A good release planning process is essential for any company, while in some cases it is mandatory. For example, to implement IoT in the supply chain you would need to spend some time before the development starts, describing the architecture and defining connection methods between devices. Without one, you're likely to experience a lot of problems with new releases. If you're having trouble with your current process, it's important to seek out help from a professional consultant. They can help you develop a better process that will avoid the common problems listed above.

possible issues in planning

What is release planning?

The term release planning is often used in the software development world, but may be unfamiliar to those working in other industries. In its most basic form, release planning is the creation of a plan that describes how a product will be released into the market. The plan should take into account all of the factors that could affect the success of the product launch, including team availability, deadlines, and dependencies.

Release planning is a critical part of any project, but it can be especially important in software development. By creating a plan that takes into account all the potential variables, developers can ensure that their product is released on time and meets all the necessary requirements.

What Is Agile Release Planning?

Agile release planning is a subset of agile project management that focuses specifically on the release phase of a project. In agile release planning, the team creates a plan for how they will release the product into the market. The plan should take into account all of the factors that could affect the success of the product launch, including team availability, deadlines, and dependencies.

The goal of agile release planning is to create a plan that is flexible enough to adapt to changes in the market or in the team. By taking into account all the potential variables, developers can ensure that their product is released on time and meets all the necessary requirements.

It is important to note that agile release planning is not a one-time event. The plan should be revisited on a regular basis in order to ensure that it is still relevant and up-to-date. Furthermore, the team should be prepared to adapt their plan as necessary in order to respond to changes in the market or in the team. Release planning through Scrum, or whichever system you prefer, is a critical part of any project.

Research has shown that this approach leads to decisions that are better informed, more established, as well as easier optimization of release plan productions.

Specialists create working on release planning

What Is Scrum?

Scrum is a framework for agile project management that helps teams to deliver projects on time and within budget. It is based on the principles of agile software development, which emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and responsiveness to change. The Scrum framework consists of three core elements: sprints, Scrum teams, and the Scrum master. Another useful element which however is not a part of Scrum is MVP.

Sprints are short periods of time (typically one or two weeks) during which the team works together to complete a set of tasks. The Scrum team is self-organizing and consists of developers, product owners, and QA testers. The Scrum master user is responsible for ensuring that the team follows the Scrum framework and that they are productive and efficient.

scrum master

[Source: Unsplash]

The Scrum framework allows teams to respond to changes in the market or in the team by adapting their plan as necessary. This flexibility makes it an ideal framework for agile software development.

What are the benefits of scrum?

There are several benefits of using the scrum release planning systems. In 2015 a longitudinal study was conducted, with the main objective on applying a release planning method in a large software company. The article gives great insight into the benefits identified by researchers.

Here we are going to name a few key benefits:

  • Increased collaboration: The Scrum framework encourages collaboration among team members. This can help to improve communication, transparency and reduce conflict.
  • Increased productivity: The short sprints allow teams to work quickly and efficiently, which can lead to increased productivity.
  • Flexibility: The Scrum framework is flexible, which allows teams to adapt to changes in the market or in the team.
  • Increased accountability: In the Scrum framework, team members are held accountable for their own tasks. This can help to improve productivity and reduce conflict.

Is release planning done in Scrum?

Release planning is a key part of the Scrum framework. In Scrum, the release plan is known as the Sprint Backlog. The Sprint Backlog is a list of all the tasks that need to be completed in order to release the product into the market. It includes both the tasks that need to be completed in the current sprint and the tasks that need to be completed in future sprints.

The Sprint Backlog is updated on a regular basis to ensure that it remains up-to-date. The team should also be prepared to adapt their plan as necessary in order to respond to changes in the market or in the team.

What is the difference between release planning and sprint planning?

Release planning is the process of creating a plan for how a product will be released into the market. It takes into account all of the factors that could affect the success of the product launch, including team availability, deadlines, and dependencies.

Sprint planning is a subset of agile release planning that focuses specifically on the sprint phase of a project. In sprint planning, the team creates a plan for how they will complete the tasks in their sprint backlog. The plan should take into account all of the factors that could affect the success of the sprint, including team availability, deadlines, and dependencies.

It is important to note that agile release planning and sprint planning are not mutually exclusive -- both processes should be used together to create a comprehensive plan for releasing a product. However, sprint planning should be given more focus during the sprint release planning phase of a project, as this is when the team will be working to complete the tasks in their Sprint Backlog.

In simpler terms, spring planning is a kind of tactical approach, a unit of two to four weeks of work dedicated to a specific phase of a project. Essentially, it is only a part of the bigger picture that is release planning.

scrum masters

Is release planning allowed in Scrum?

Yes, it is allowed in Scrum. The Sprint Backlog is a key part of the Scrum framework, and it includes a list of all the tasks that need to be completed in order to release the product into the market.

What is Release Planning in Agile?

Release planning within agile methodology is the process of creating a plan for how a product will be released into the market. It takes into account all of the factors that could affect the success of the product launch, including team availability, deadlines, and dependencies.

Release planning is a key part of the agile methodology, and it should be used in conjunction with sprint planning to create a plan for releasing a product.\ Investing time and effort to master agile methodologies, grow and acquire the best know-how practices will surely give you the competitive advantage.

What is the difference between release planning and product backlog grooming?

Release planning is the process of creating a plan for how a product will be released into the market. It takes into account all of the factors that could affect the success of the product launch, including team availability, deadlines, and dependencies.

Product backlog grooming is a subset of agile release planning that focuses specifically on the product backlog. In product backlog grooming, the team reviews and prioritizes the items in their product backlog. The goal of product backlog grooming is to ensure that the product backlog is up-to-date and contains all of the tasks that need to be completed in order to release the product into the market.

Product roadmap example

Release planning vs Sprint planning

The main difference between release planning and sprint planning is that release planning is done on a broader scale, while sprint planning is done on a more granular level. Release planning is responsible for creating a comprehensive plan for releasing a product into the market, while sprint planning is responsible for creating a plan for completing all of the tasks required for a specific sprint. The two processes are complementary, and they should be updated on a regular basis to ensure that they remain up-to-date.

What is the deliverable for release planning?

The deliverable for release planning is a plan for how a product will be released into the market. The plan should take into account all of the factors that could affect the success of the product launch, including team availability, deadlines, and dependencies. It should also include a timeline for completing the project.

How is release planning done in agile?

In agile, release planning is typically done in conjunction with sprint planning.

While every company is different, the process should in general look like something like this:

1. Establish the release goal:

The first step in release planning is to establish the release goal, which is the desired outcome of the release. The release goal should be specific and measurable, and it should be aligned with the company's overall business goals.

2. Assess dependencies:

Once the release goal has been established, the next step is to assess any dependencies that may impact the release. This includes both internal and external dependencies, as well as dependencies on other teams or projects.

3. Create a timeline:

Once the dependencies have been assessed, the next step is to create a timeline for completing the project. This should include a schedule for completing all of the tasks required for a successful product launch.

4. Identify risks and mitigation strategies:

Once the timeline is established, the next step is to identify any risks that could impact the release and come up with mitigation strategies.

5. Update regularly:

The final step is to update the release plan on a regular basis to ensure that it remains up-to-date. This includes updating the timeline as new information becomes available and adjusting the plan as necessary to account for changes in the market or in the team.

scrum masters

Who is responsible for release planning in Scrum?

Release planning with Scrum is typically done by the product owner. The product owner is responsible for ensuring that the product backlog is up-to-date and contains all of the tasks that need to be completed in order to release the product into the market. They are also responsible for ensuring that the plan is updated on a regular basis and that the team is prepared to adapt it as necessary.

What are release planning activities?

Agile release planning best practices usually include activities such as:

  • Establishing the release goal
  • Assessing dependencies
  • Creating a timeline
  • Identifying risks and mitigation strategies
  • Updating the plan regularly
  • Ensuring that the product backlog is up-to-date
  • Communicating with stakeholders
  • Coordinating with other teams or projects
  • Adjusting the plan as necessary to account for changes in the market or in the team.

Release planning is an important part of the product development process. It helps to ensure that all of the tasks required for a successful product launch are identified and accounted for, and it provides a framework for responding to changes. Release planning should be done on a regular basis in order to ensure that the plan remains up-to-date, and the team should be prepared to adapt it as necessary in order to respond to changes in the market or in the team.

When to do release planning in Scrum?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the timing of release planning will vary from company to company. However, it's generally a good idea to start planning for new releases as soon as possible. This will give you enough time to coordinate and execute new releases in a way that doesn't cause any major

However, there is a rule of thumb you can stick to. Release planning should typically be done in conjunction with sprint planning. In order to be successful, you need to stay in touch with any market changes, in terms of costs, expenses, and the wants and needs of your target audience.

In a way, our answer to this section's question is both -- all the time, and as soon as possible.

What is release planning called in agile?

Release planning is also called "release management" in agile. Release management planning is the process of planning and coordinating the release of a product into the market. The plan should be updated on a regular basis to ensure that it remains up-to-date, and the team should be prepared to adapt it as necessary in order to respond to changes in the market or in the team.

release planning process

Conclusion

Release planning is a very important part of the product development process. It helps to ensure that all of the tasks required for a successful product launch are identified and accounted for, and it provides a framework for responding to changes. The team should be prepared to adapt it as necessary in order to respond to changes in the market or in the team.

Using the Scrum methodology you can create quality products that will have a significant impact on your business by ensuring that everything runs smoothly. Therefore your employees as well as the customers will be more satisfied. Beautifully said in one scrum article -- "Scrum is a framework for getting work done, where agile is a mindset."

If you have any questions or experiences you want to share, please do so in the comments. And if you're looking for custom web development services -- get in touch with SumatoSoft.

Author's bio

Melissa Gray is a freelance writer and an organizational psychologist. Her focus is primarily on marketing and new digital trends across the world. She is also a passionate gamer, with special interest in narrative design. She writes for Digital Strategy One and SumatoSoft.