Interviewer: Can you explain sprint planning without the jargon?

Expert: Sure. A sprint is a fixed period, usually two weeks, where a team commits to completing specific work. Sprint planning is the meeting where they decide what goes into that two-week block.

Interviewer: Who attends these meetings?

Expert: The whole development team, a product owner who represents customer needs, and usually a facilitator. Everyone needs to be there because you're making commitments together.

Interviewer: What actually happens?

Expert: First, the product owner shows the highest priority items from the backlog. Think of the backlog as a prioritized to-do list. Then the team discusses each item, estimates how long it takes, and decides how much they can realistically finish in two weeks based on past performance.

Interviewer: How long do these meetings run?

Expert: For a two-week sprint, typically four hours maximum. Longer sprints might need more time. If it drags past that, something is wrong with your preparation.

Interviewer: What makes sprint planning effective?

Expert: Clear priorities from the product owner. Work items that are well-defined before the meeting. Honest estimates from the team. And realistic commitments based on what they actually accomplished in previous sprints, not wishful thinking.