list at least three attributes of PBIs.

Concepts

As a Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) or someone studying to become one, understanding the attributes of Product Backlog Items (PBIs) forms the fundamental basis of your work in Scrum teams. PBIs, which represent the elements needed for product development, are listed in the product backlog in a prioritized order. In this context, we will discuss three crucial attributes of PBIs.

1. Clarity:

The primary attribute of all PBIs is clarity. Each PBI should be clearly defined, leaving no room for ambiguity or confusion; therefore, everyone in the scrum team should understand it. A well-defined PBI ensures that everyone is on the same page and helps to reduce misunderstandings that could lead to problems during product development. For instance, if a PBI is to “redesign the website’s user interface,” it needs detailed specifications about the preferred color scheme, layout, and kind of interactivity required.

2. Size or Estimation:

Another fundamental attribute of PBIs is their size or estimation. The size of PBIs, which is usually expressed in story points, represents the effort required to complete them. Smaller PBIs are generally simpler, require less work and could be completed within a sprint, while larger PBIs could be split into several smaller, manageable PBIs. When PBIs are adequately sized, it becomes easier for the team to plan and allocate resources effectively. For example, if a PBI “Implement a secure payment gateway” is complex and cannot be completed in a sprint, it could be broken down into simpler tasks such as “Create a payment interface,” “Integrate with a payment processor,” and “Test the payment functionality.”

PBI Title	Size/Estimation
Redesign User Interface	13
Implement Secure Payment Gateway	20
Test Payment Functionality	5

3. Value:

Finally, every PBI should deliver value – this is perhaps one of the most critical attributes of a PBI. The value of a PBI is often measured by its impact on the end-users and the business. The Scrum team usually works on high-value PBIs first, as these are expected to deliver the greatest benefits. A PBI like “Build a recommendation engine for the website” might have a high value because it can boost customer engagement and increase sales.

PBI Title	Value
Redesign User Interface	Medium
Implement Secure Payment Gateway	High
Test Payment Functionality	Low

In conclusion, the key attributes of clarity, size or estimation, and value go a long way in making PBIs effective instruments in product development with Scrum. Understanding these attributes is therefore crucial for anyone preparing for the Certified Scrum Developers (CSD) exam or intending to work efficiently in a Scrum environment.

Answer the Questions in Comment Section

True or False: A PBI is a Product Backlog Item in Scrum methodologies.

True

False

Answer: True

Explanation: PBI stands for Product Backlog Item in Scrum. It’s a feature, improvement, or bug fix associated with any given project.

Which of the following is not an attribute of a PBI?

A. Description
B. Order
C. Service level agreement

D. Estimate

Answer: C. Service level agreement

Explanation: A PBI typically has four main attributes: a description, an order, an estimate and a value. Service level agreements are not an attribute of a PBI.

True or False: A PBI’s order determines the timeline for its implementation.

True
False

Answer: True

Explanation: The order of a PBI typically determines when it should be taken up for implementation. The higher the order, the sooner it is addressed.

Multiple Select: At least three attributes of a PBI are:

A. Size
B. Effort

C. Description
D. Order
E. Value

Answer: C. Description, D. Order, E. Value

Explanation: The three common attributes of Product Backlog Items are Description, Order, and Value. Though Size and Effort can be other attributes, they are not mandatory.

True or False: Value is a measure of a PBI’s worth in terms of business benefit.

True

False

Answer: True

Explanation: Each PBI has a ‘value’ attribute that is a measure of its perceived worth in relation to the business benefit it is expected to deliver.

Single Select: Which one is not a common attribute of PBI?

A. Estimate
B. Order
C. Risk

D. Value

Answer: C. Risk

Explanation: Risk is not a common attribute of a PBI. The common attributes are Description, Order, Estimate and Value.

Multiple Select: Which of the following belong to PBI’s attributes:

A. Description
B. Order
C. Value

D. Exit criteria

Answer: A. Description, B. Order, C. Value

Explanation: A Product Backlog Item (PBI) always includes attributes such as a description, order, and value. Exit criteria is not a common PBI attribute.

True or False: The Description attribute of a PBI is optional.

True
False

Answer: False

Explanation: Every PBI must have a description. It provides the details about what is desired for the end product’s functionality.

Single Select: The ‘value’ attribute of a PBI refers to:

A. Monetary worth
B. Development effort

C. Perceived business benefit
D. Time taken for development

Answer: C. Perceived business benefit

Explanation: ‘Value’ in a PBI refers to the perceived business benefit that the PBI will deliver when completed.

True or False: An estimate in a PBI is the effort that would be required to develop the item.

True
False

Answer: True

Explanation: An estimate in a PBI refers to anticipated effort needed to complete the implementation of the item. This helps in prioritizing and scheduling the workload.

Multiple Select: Which of the following are common attributes of a PBI?

A. Size

B. Value
C. Development Team
D. Description

Answer: B. Value, D. Description

Explanation: The common attributes of a Product Backlog Item are Description, Order, Estimate, and Value. The Development Team and Size are not typically counted among these attributes.

True or False: The ‘order’ attribute of a PBI determines its complexity.

True

False

Answer: False

Explanation: The ‘order’ attribute in a PBI determines the sequence or priority of implementation, not its complexity. It helps in managing the PBIs in terms of their execution.