sprint
SPRINT
/sprɪnt/
A short, fast race; in Agile, a set period of time during which specific work must be completed and made ready for review.
In project management, a sprint is usually 2 to 4 weeks long and has a very specific goal that cannot be changed once the sprint starts.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Old Norse 'sprenta', meaning to spring or dart forward. It was used for centuries only in running. It was adopted into project management in the 1990s to emphasize speed and focus.
Word relationships
- iteration: Iteration is the general term for a repeating cycle; a sprint is a specific type of iteration used in Scrum.
- dash: A dash is a sudden, quick run, but it lacks the structured planning of a project sprint.
- marathon: A marathon is a long-endurance event, often used to describe projects that take months or years without breaks.
Commonly confused with
- phase: A phase is a stage in a project (like 'design'); a sprint is a time-box where a bit of every phase might happen.
Word family
- sprinting (verb): The act of running or working in a sprint.
- sprinter (noun): A person who runs or works in short bursts.
Collocations
- two-week sprint
- sprint planning
- sprint review
- sprint goal
Example sentences
- "He won the 100-meter sprint by a fraction of a second." Athletics
- "During the last sprint, the team successfully integrated the new payment gateway." Software Development
Memory hook
Think of a runner giving 100% effort for a short distance—that's a project sprint. A sprint is a short, fast burst.
When not to use
Do not use 'sprint' for a long-term phase; it must be a short, intense burst of effort.
Fun facts
- In the Scrum framework, a sprint always ends with a 'Sprint Retrospective' to discuss what went well.
- The concept of 'Design Sprints' was popularized by Google Ventures to solve big problems in just five days.
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