Sprint reviews and demonstration techniques

The sprint review shows completed work to stakeholders and collects feedback for future iterations. Unlike a presentation or status report, an effective review actively engages stakeholders in evaluating what was built and discussing how it might evolve. A successful demonstration focuses on working functionality from the user's perspective. Rather than describing what was built, the team shows the software in action, ideally in an environment that closely resembles production. The presentation should follow user journeys rather than technical implementations. Product and design professionals play important roles in sprint reviews. Product managers can connect demonstrated features to business goals and user needs, while designers can highlight how the implementation addresses usability and user experience objectives.

Both can help translate between technical capabilities and business outcomes. The most valuable reviews change from presentations into conversations. Instead of a one-way flow of information, they create space for stakeholders to ask questions, provide insights, and collaborate on next steps. This dialogue helps the team gather both direct feedback ("I like this feature") and indirect observations (confusion about how something works).