Release Planning
A mid-range planning effort that coordinates several sprints to achieve a specific release objective.
Key Points
- Connects sprint-level work to a clear release goal over multiple iterations.
- Uses team velocity and capacity to forecast scope and timing for the release.
- Surfaces cross-team dependencies, risks, and key milestones.
- Produces a high-level plan and criteria for release readiness (e.g., quality gates, DoD).
Example
A product team plans the next 4 two-week sprints to launch instant transfers. They forecast 120 story points based on historical velocity, prioritize the highest-value features, align with the API team for an integration dependency, set a target release window, and define success metrics and release criteria.
PMP Example Question
During a quarterly session, the team and stakeholders set a release goal, map dependencies across four sprints, and forecast scope using velocity. What activity are they performing?
- Sprint Planning
- Release Planning
- Product Roadmapping
- Daily Scrum
Correct Answer: B — Release Planning
Explanation: Release planning is a medium-term activity that aligns multiple sprints toward a defined release outcome, including forecasting, dependencies, and milestones.