Backlog Grooming

Correct Answer: Use techniques such as vertical slicing and INVEST criteria

Using techniques such as vertical slicing and INVEST criteria provides guidance on breaking down large user stories into smaller pieces while preserving their value. Other answers either avoid addressing the issue or delegate the responsibility to an inappropriate team member.

Correct Answer: Discuss the issue with the team member, emphasizing the importance of their participation and collaboration in backlog grooming sessions.

Addressing the issue directly by discussing the importance of participation and collaboration ensures that the team understands the value of backlog grooming, and helps establish a more consistent approach to backlog management.

Correct Answer: Collaborate with the Product Owner to define acceptance criteria before estimation.

In the context of agile practices, particularly backlog grooming in Scrum, clarity on what needs to be done for a high-priority feature is crucial for the team to accurately estimate effort and plan its implementation. The most effective approach is to collaborate directly with the Product Owner to define clear acceptance criteria before any estimation or further grooming. This ensures that everyone has a shared understanding of what 'done' looks like for the feature, leading to more accurate estimations and effective planning. Setting the item aside, as suggested in another answer, delays progress and misses the opportunity to clarify and proceed with high-priority items. Estimating effort without clear acceptance criteria, as another option suggests, can lead to inaccurate estimates and potential rework. Lastly, requesting the Product Owner to provide acceptance criteria without active collaboration misses the opportunity for dialogue and mutual understanding, which is less effective than working together directly.