Concepts
These are essentially the “to do” lists for product development, holding a complete list of features, functions, requirements, enhancements, and fixes for a product in development. However, not all Product Backlog items (PBIs) are created equally. Strong PBIs have specific attributes that make them more effective in driving product development. In this article, we’ll dive into three pivotal attributes of a PBI: Clear, Testable, and Independent.
1. Clear
Clarity is paramount when creating a PBI. Every team member should be able to understand what is meant to be achieved. This clarity not only helps in efficient execution but also aids in accurate estimation of the time and effort required. A clear PBI provides a shared understanding among the team about what the end result would be.
For instance, consider a backlog item for a banking app that says ‘Add Favourite Features’. It’s not clear whether ‘Favourite Features’ refers to marking a particular transaction as a favourite, or a contact, or a particular type of payment. This could instead be made clear as ‘Add Option to Mark a Contact as Favourite’.
2. Testable
Every PBI should ideally be testable, this means that the team can unequivocally determine whether the task is done or not. Having testable PBIs ensures that the implemented features or functions work as expected, and if not, they can be fixed.
As an example, consider a backlog item that says ‘Improve app speed’. This is not specific or testable. What does ‘improve’ mean, and what is considered an adequate ‘speed’? A more testable PBI might be ‘Reduce app startup time to under 4 seconds’. Testing can then verify whether the app’s startup time has indeed been reduced to under 4 seconds.
3. Independent
PBIs should be independent of one another to allow for flexible planning and scheduling. For example, the completion of one PBI should not be dependent on the completion of another PBI. The logic behind this attribute is to avoid having a domino effect on your backlog if one backlog item cannot be completed.
Consider two PBIs for a movie booking app: ‘Add payment gateway’ and ‘Enable Online Ticket Booking’. If these tasks are not independent, and the app cannot book tickets online without the payment gateway, then a delay in adding the payment gateway will delay the online ticket booking functionality as well. Therefore, it’s crucial to have the PBIs decoupled and independent of each other.
In conclusion, PBIs having these attributes tend to be more valuable, effective, and manageable. They contribute to a smooth project execution and ensure alignment with the project’s intended goals and vision. Avail the Scrum Foundations Exam by reinforcing these attributes into your product backlog items, and you’re sure on your way to maximise the efficacy and efficiency of your Scrum Team. And remember, the true mark of a successful Scrum Team is not just getting the work done, but getting it done well.
Table for Comparison
| Attribute | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Clear | Ensures everyone understands the goal of the PBI |
| Testable | Allows team to determine whether task is done |
| Independent | Enables flexible planning and avoids backlog domino effect |
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
True/False: A Product Backlog item might be an attribute of user stories, use cases, or any other requirements format.
- a) True
- b) False
Which of the following is an attribute of a Product Backlog item according to Scrum?
- a) Size
- b) Cost
- c) Deadline
- d) Description
True/False: The Product owner is the primary person responsible for ordering the items in the product backlog.
- a) True
- b) False
According to SCRUM Foundation guide, which one of the following characteristics defines a proper product backlog item?
- a) It must be testable
- b) It should be a long term goal
- c) It must be complex
- d) It should be written by the development team
What does the acronym DEEP stand for in reference to product backlog items?
- a) Detailed, Estimable, Emergent, Prioritized
- b) Detailed, Emergent, Estimable, Prioritized
- c) Digital, Emergent, Estimable, Prioritized
- d) Detailed, Energy, Emergent, Prioritized
True/False: Size is not a relevant characteristic of a product backlog item.
- a) True
- b) False
True/False: Each item in a product backlog should provide value to the customer.
- a) True
- b) False
Select all that apply: The characteristics of a good product backlog involve items that are:
- a) Detailed appropriately
- b) Not estimated
- c) Emergent
- d) Prioritized
According to Scrum, who is primarily responsible for maintaining the product backlog?
- a) Scrum Master
- b) Product Owner
- c) Scrum Team
- d) Stakeholders
True/False: Product backlog items are always written in the form of user stories.
- a) True
- b) False
Which of the following best describes the attribute ‘Order’ in a product backlog item?
- a) The sequence in which backlog items are expected to be worked on
- b) The sequential numbering assigned to each item in the backlog
- c) The process of sorting items based on their size
- d) The categorization of items into different sprints
True/False: Product backlog items are often ordered by risk and value.
- a) True
- b) False
In referring to a product backlog item, the ‘Value’ attribute refers to:
- a) The monetary worth of the item
- b) The potential business or customer benefit of the item
- c) The cost of implementing the item
- d) The perceived difficulty of the item
Great post! One important attribute of a Product Backlog item is that it should be ‘Estimated’. It helps in planning sprints effectively.
Thanks for this post, very informative!
A key attribute is that it should be ‘Valuable’. Every item should deliver value to the end user or customer.
Interesting read, appreciate the effort!
Another critical attribute is that Product Backlog items should be ‘Actionable’. This means they should be clear and detailed enough for the team to start working on them.
Appreciate the insights provided.
I feel a good backlog item must also be ‘Negotiable’. It’s not a rigid contract but a placeholder for future conversation.
Thanks for sharing this, very useful for my SCRUM study.