Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum FrameworkMedium
A Scrum Team has been consistently delivering 'Done' Increments, but stakeholders frequently complain that the most valuable features are not being delivered soon enough. The Product Owner expresses difficulty in ordering the Product Backlog. What characteristic is most likely missing from the Product Backlog to help the Product Owner address this challenge?
- AValuable
- BTransparent
- CEstimated
- DOrdered
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Ordered
The problem states that stakeholders complain the 'most valuable features are not being delivered soon enough' and the Product Owner 'expresses difficulty in ordering'. This directly points to an issue with the Product Backlog's 'Ordered' characteristic, meaning the Product Backlog Items are not arranged by value, risk, need, or other factors.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While Product Backlog Items should be valuable, the problem is about *which* valuable items are delivered *when*, which is addressed by ordering.
- B. Transparency refers to visibility, not the specific ordering of items by value.
- C. Estimation helps with planning, but the core issue is the prioritization of value.
Product Backlog Attributes (DEEP)
The Product Backlog should possess the attributes of DEEP: Detailed appropriately, Estimated, Emergent, and Ordered.
- Detailed Appropriately: Higher priority items are more detailed.
- Estimated: Items have an estimate of effort.
- Emergent: Constantly updated and refined.
- Ordered: Arranged by value, risk, need, etc., to maximize value.
Memory trick: DEEP into the Product Backlog's secrets.