<aside> 💡 Cycles & Sprints are methods we use to maintain a strategic overview of work on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. At the end of each cycle/sprint. We have to publish our report/changelog to keep our culture of transparency alive.

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Definition of Terms

Cycles

A cycle is a broader term used to describe a repetitive sequence of activities or phases that a team follows to complete a project. In product development, it often refers to the entire process from requirements gathering to deployment and maintenance.

• Duration: Cycles typically spans several weeks to months.
• Scope: Covers a larger portion of the project, possibly the entire lifecycle from start to finish.
• Flexibility: Less flexible compared to sprints, as they involve long-term planning and may have fixed milestones.

Sprint

A sprint is a time-boxed iteration within the Agile framework where a specific set of work has to be completed and made ready for review. It’s a subset of a cycle.

• Duration: Shorter, usually lasting 2 to 4 weeks.
• Scope: Focuses on completing a smaller, manageable amount of work (e.g., features, bug fixes) within the sprint timeframe.
• Flexibility: More flexible and adaptive, allowing for quick adjustments based on feedback and changes in priorities.

How a Team Can Use Both

A team can use both cycles and sprints by structuring their workflow to incorporate the high-level, strategic planning of cycles with the tactical, iterative progress of sprints. Here's how it can be done:

1. Define the Project Cycle:
   • Outline the entire project lifecycle with phases such as initiation, research/planning, execution, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
   • Set high-level goals and milestones for each phase.
2. Plan Sprints Within Each Cycle:
   • Break down the project cycle into multiple sprints.
   • Each sprint should have clear objectives that contribute to the overarching goals of the cycle.
3. Regular Review and Adjustment:
   • After each sprint, conduct a sprint review and retrospective to assess progress and make necessary adjustments.
   • Use the insights from sprints to inform and adjust the overall cycle plan if needed.

Template for Planning Cycles and Sprints

Project Cycle Plan Template

Project Name: 🔎 Microsense