/ˈsprɪnt.niː.ʒə/
Definition
A recurring neurological condition affecting agile teams, characterized by the complete erasure of all commitments, goals, and learnings made during the previous sprint. Typically sets in moments after the retro concludes and lasts until the next planning session begins.
Common Manifestations
- Stories mysteriously reappearing in the backlog with new IDs and the same description.
- The phrase “Didn’t we already fix that?” echoing through the stand-up.
- Teams confidently committing to “small, achievable goals” right before doubling scope.
- Repeated vows to “improve estimation” that never survive contact with Jira.
- Scrum Masters developing thousand-yard stares during planning.
Usage Example
“We swore we’d write tests this sprint, but Sprintnesia kicked in right after stand-up.”
HR Guidance
Sprintnesia is a natural coping mechanism for teams trapped in perpetual delivery cycles. Recommended treatment includes shorter retros, longer weekends, and pretending it’s all part of “continuous improvement.”
If symptoms persist, rename the sprint theme to ‘resilience’ and call it progress.