PMI CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) Examination Content OutlineAgile Frameworks/MethodologiesEasy
A Product Owner is struggling with managing a large and constantly evolving Product Backlog. New ideas and stakeholder requests come in frequently, making it difficult to keep the backlog organized, estimated, and ready for upcoming Sprints. The Development Team also complains about unclear or outdated items during Sprint Planning. Which ongoing activity, requiring collaboration between the Product Owner and Development Team, would BEST address these challenges?
- ADaily Scrum.
- BSprint Review.
- CBacklog Refinement.
- DSprint Retrospective.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Backlog Refinement.
Backlog Refinement (previously called Backlog Grooming) is the ongoing activity where the Product Owner and Development Team collaborate to add detail, estimates, and order to Product Backlog Items, ensuring they are clear and ready for future Sprints.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The Daily Scrum is for the Development Team to synchronize their activities and plan for the next 24 hours, not for backlog management and refinement.
- B. The Sprint Review is for inspecting the Increment and adapting the Product Backlog, but the ongoing process of detailing and estimating items is handled through Backlog Refinement.
- D. The Sprint Retrospective focuses on inspecting the Sprint and adapting the process, not on refining Product Backlog Items.
Backlog Refinement
An ongoing, collaborative activity in Scrum where the Product Owner and Development Team add detail, estimates, and order to Product Backlog Items, preparing them for future Sprints.
- Not a formal Scrum event, but an ongoing activity.
- Involves Product Owner and Development Team.
- Aims to make PBIs 'ready' for Sprint Planning.
- Typically consumes no more than 10% of the Development Team's capacity.
Memory trick: Plan the Sprint, daily sync, refine the backlog, review, then retrospect.