Scrum Artefacts
Scrum artefacts are intended to provide transparency for the work and invite their inspection and subsequent adaptation.
Product Backlog
The Product Backlog represents a single source of requirements, features and changes needed for the work and is an ordered list that is managed by the Product Owner. The Product Backlog is never static and should reflect the current understanding of the product. The Product Backlog should be continually curated and updated with new items added and superseded items removed as part of the Product Backlog Refinement activities. Highest ordered items should be more detailed with lowest order items less so.
Practical Tips
| Story Mapping | Using Story Mapping[11] techniques can really help to bring a Product Backlog to life and provide more dimensions to consider during Product Backlog Refinement activities and Sprint Planning than just an ordered list.
Seeing everything laid out can help Product Owners and the Development Team see patterns and strategies to help to determine the best possible value that can be delivered. |
| Avoid Tool Solutions | In a scaled environment it can be tempting to look for tools to be the solution to problems without really understanding what the underlying problems are.
Ensure that the problems are thoroughly understood before tool solutions are proposed. |
| Physical Vs Electronic Tools | A physical Product Backlog on a wall with index cards can be a great way to visualise the product, understand the context and see patterns that can help to derive a strategy for delivery. They can be big and bold, and show everything at a glance.
Electronic tools by comparison can show items on a screen and may be subject to the resolution of that screen. They are great for distributed teams to understand what is needed for the product to be delivered, but may not provide that strategic thought pattern that would be possible with a big physical Product Backlog that is immersive. |
| Living Product Backlog | The Product Backlog should be a living representation of the current understanding of the product and the value that it provides, and should be continually curated and updated with what is currently known. |
See Also
- Scrum Framework
- Product Backlog
- Sprint Planning & Product Backlog Refinement
- Product Backlog Refinement