Product Backlog Refinement
Product backlog refinement, formerly known as grooming, involves reviewing, managing, and ordering the items in the product backlog to ensure that the most valuable features are at the top, ready for the next Sprint. It's a collaborative effort with inputs from the Product Owner, the Scrum team and potentially other stakeholders. It is an ongoing process that helps to clarify requirements and ensure everyone on the team understands the work scopes. While it isn't a formal activity in Scrum, it's an essential part of product backlog management to ensure the backlog remains manageable, detailed appropriately, estimated, and prioritized.
Guide to Product Backlog Refinement in PSM I
What is Product Backlog Refinement?
Product backlog refinement is an ongoing process that involves adding detail, estimates, and order to items in the Product Backlog. This process is led by the Product Owner and the Development Team. It helps to ensure that the backlog remains organized and managed.
Why is it Important?
Proper backlog refinement helps to make sure the Development Team has clearly defined work items for the upcoming sprints. Hence, it ensures that the team can start work efficiently without any needless delay or confusion.
How it works?
During refinement, the product owner and the development team review the items on the backlog, discuss them, split large items into smaller ones, and estimate the relative effort required to complete each item. It ensures that the items are 'Ready' to be pulled into Sprint Planning.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Product Backlog Refinement
Remember, in an exam scenario
- The product owner is in charge of the product backlog, but this does not mean they are the only person who can update it. Development team members can also contribute under the guidance of the Product Owner.
- Refinement is an ongoing process and doesn't have a set schedule in the Scrum Guide.
- The goal of product backlog refinement is to break down items into 'sprint ready' work that can be completed within one sprint.
- Sometimes a Product Backlog includes very high-level items. These are called product backlog items (PBIs) or user stories. The Scrum Team collaborates to detail and estimate these items in further refinement sessions.
Go Premium
Professional Scrum Master I Preparation Package (2024)
- 2149 Superior-grade Professional Scrum Master I practice questions.
- Accelerated Mastery: Deep dive into critical topics to fast-track your mastery.
- Unlock Effortless PSM I preparation: 5 full exams.
- 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed: Full refund with no questions if unsatisfied.
- Bonus: If you upgrade now you get upgraded access to all courses
- Risk-Free Decision: Start with a 7-day free trial - get premium features at no cost!