How much of the Sprint Backlog must be defined during the Sprint Planning meeting?

During the Sprint Planning meeting, the Scrum Team collaborates to create a Sprint Backlog that is a forecast of the work to be performed during the Sprint. The aim is not to have every detail fully defined, but instead to establish a clear and actionable set of items that will guide the team for the initial phase of the Sprint. By focusing on "enough for the initial days of the Sprint," the team ensures they have a solid understanding of what to start working on while allowing for flexibility as the Sprint progresses.

This approach acknowledges the iterative nature of Scrum where detailed planning is often not feasible or necessary upfront. As the team begins to work on the items in the Sprint Backlog, they can refine and adjust their understanding of the work based on ongoing feedback and discoveries made during the Sprint. This promotes an adaptive mindset within the team, aligning with Agile principles that encourage responsiveness to change, rather than rigid adherence to a predetermined plan.

Hence, defining enough work for the initial days allows the team to make progress while maintaining the adaptability needed for effective Scrum practice.