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Sprints & Backlog

Sprints and the backlog help teams plan work over time, prioritize tasks, and deliver work in focused iterations.

Sprints and the backlog help teams plan work over time, prioritize tasks, and deliver work in focused iterations.

Written by : Cynoia team

Last Updated on 28 January 2026

Sprints and the backlog help teams plan work over time, prioritize tasks, and deliver work in focused iterations.

They are especially useful for teams following agile or iterative workflows.

What Is the Backlog?

The backlog is a space where tasks live before they are scheduled.

Backlog tasks are:

  • Not assigned to a sprint

  • Not actively being worked on

  • Ready for future planning

Use the backlog to collect ideas, upcoming work, and unplanned tasks.

What Is a Sprint?

A sprint is a fixed time period during which a team commits to completing a set of tasks.

Sprints help teams:

  • Focus on a defined scope of work

  • Plan realistic workloads

  • Track progress over time

  • Review completed work

Enabling Sprints in a Project

Sprints must be enabled at the project level.

Steps

  1. Open the project

  2. Go to Project Settings

  3. Select Sprints

  4. Enable sprints and configure:

    • Sprint duration

    • Sprint start date

Sprint data is preserved even if sprints are disabled later.


Sprint View

The Sprint view shows all sprints in a project.

For each sprint, you can see:

  • Sprint name and date range

  • Assigned tasks

  • Sprint status (Upcoming, Active, Completed)

  • Progress indicators

Creating a Sprint

When sprints are enabled, new sprints are created automatically based on the configured duration.

You can:

  • Rename sprints

  • Adjust sprint dates

  • Move tasks between sprints

Assigning Tasks to a Sprint

Tasks can be assigned to sprints from:

  • Sprint view

  • Task properties panel

  • Backlog view

This helps teams move tasks from planning to execution.

Using the Backlog for Planning

A common workflow:

  1. Add tasks to the backlog

  2. Review and prioritize tasks

  3. Move selected tasks into the upcoming sprint

  4. Start the sprint and begin execution

Backlog keeps future work organized without cluttering active sprints.

Sprint Progress & Completion

During a sprint, teams can:

  • Track completed vs remaining tasks

  • Monitor workload and progress

  • Adjust scope if needed

Once the sprint ends:

  • It is marked as Completed

  • Tasks remain visible for reference

  • Historical sprint data stays available

Best Practices

  • Keep backlog prioritized and clean

  • Avoid overloading sprints

  • Assign clear owners to sprint tasks

  • Review sprint outcomes regularly

  • Use backlog for planning, not execution

What’s Next?

👉 Next article: Budget & Expenses

Learn how to track project costs, manage budgets, and stay within financial limits.