Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum FrameworkMedium
A Scrum Team has been working on a product for several months. They consistently deliver 'Done' Increments, but the Product Owner is finding it increasingly difficult to explain the product's overall direction and value proposition to new stakeholders. The Product Backlog contains hundreds of items, some very detailed, others vague, and it is rarely reviewed as a whole. Which Scrum Artifact is MOST likely suffering from a lack of proper management?
- ADefinition of Done
- BProduct Backlog
- CSprint Backlog
- DIncrement
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Product Backlog
The Product Backlog is an ordered list of everything that is known to be needed in the product. If it's becoming difficult to explain the product's direction and value, and the Product Backlog itself is unmanageable, it indicates a lack of proper management and refinement of this critical artifact.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The team is consistently delivering 'Done' Increments, suggesting the Definition of Done is being applied, even if it could always be improved.
- C. The Sprint Backlog is managed by the Developers for the current Sprint; the issue described is about the overall product direction, not just the current Sprint's work.
- D. The Increment is being delivered as 'Done', so its management (or lack thereof) is not the primary issue here.
Product Backlog Management
The Product Backlog is an ordered list of everything that might be needed in the product and is the single source of requirements for any changes to be made to the product. It must be actively managed and refined.
- Ordered list of product requirements.
- Evolves as product and market evolve.
- Managed by the Product Owner.
Memory trick: Clear Path Needs a Current Map.