Decide on your own time box.

[SVPavlov]

I feel the timeboxes described in the scrum guide are helpful. The main purpose of a time box is to serve as an enabling constrained (complexity theory). The actual time box length is just a guideline. Let people decide on their own time box. The purpose and outcome of a scrum event is much more important

[ViralGoodAgile]

Thank you for bringing this up, @SVPavlov

[SVPavlov]

@rjocham
My goal isn't to remove the upper limit entirely, as I agree that boundary is a valuable enabling constraint. The goal is to shift the ownership and thinking from a rigid rule to a conscious, professional choice made by the team.
Here's how I would word it:

"To ensure focus and respect people's time, each event is timeboxed to ensure focus. Rather than a rigid deadline, a timebox functions as an enabling constraint; by providing a clear upper limit, it fosters creativity and effectiveness to achieve the event's purpose within that boundary. They use timeboxes as their guideline and are accountable for adjusting them in a way that ensures the purpose of each event is achieved effectively."

Something like that.

[rjocham]

Reads well. Thanks!

[rjocham]

We will look at it.

[ViralGoodAgile]

@SVPavlov - @rjocham and I agree to use your suggestion as a basis for a wording change in the September 2025

[mhuynh1188]

@rjocham My goal isn't to remove the upper limit entirely, as I agree that boundary is a valuable enabling constraint. The goal is to shift the ownership and thinking from a rigid rule to a conscious, professional choice made by the team. Here's how I would word it:

"To ensure focus and respect people's time, each event is timeboxed to ensure focus. Rather than a rigid deadline, a timebox functions as an enabling constraint; by providing a clear upper limit, it fosters creativity and effectiveness to achieve the event's purpose within that boundary. They use timeboxes as their guideline and are accountable for adjusting them in a way that ensures the purpose of each event is achieved effectively."

Something like that.

Can I suggest a refactor to that for more clarity:

"Each event is timeboxed to respect participants’ time and maintain focus. A timebox is a flexible constraint that fosters creativity and efficiency by providing a clear upper limit. Using timeboxes as guidelines, adjusting them as needed to effectively achieve each event’s purpose.”