← All guides

Sprints and planning · Taskending editorial team

What to do when new work arrives mid-sprint

Adding a request does not create more capacity. A scope change should be an explicit decision with visible consequences.

· 1 min read

How to apply it

Establish why the need cannot wait. Create the Taskending issue and describe impact and urgency. Compare it with the sprint goal, then decide what will be delayed or how the goal changes. Record the decision on affected work.

A concrete example

A broken payment flow may outrank a visual improvement. Move the displaced improvement back to the backlog with a reason when admitting the urgent fix. The explanation will then exist at sprint review.

What to watch for

Treating every idea as urgent creates a constantly moving target. Evaluate impact rather than the requester’s seniority. Invisible unplanned work prevents the team from understanding real capacity.

How to check the outcome

Compare initial scope with additions at closure. Frequent changes may call for a larger support allowance or a different planning interval.

Try it in your own workflow.

Create a company workspace and your first issue. Taskending is currently free.

Start for free

Keep reading

01
Sprints and planning

Sprint planning for small teams

Set a clear sprint goal, realistic capacity, useful estimates and completion criteria. A practical planning and closeout guide for small teams.

02
Sprints and planning

What is a backlog and how is it different from to do?

A backlog holds needs that have not yet become execution commitments. Treating every idea as ready-to-do work obscures what the team actually promised.

03
Sprints and planning

How to run a backlog refinement session

Refinement makes upcoming work understandable and selectable. It is not a status meeting that must read the entire backlog aloud.