Managing and ordering the Product Backlog correctly are crucial in achieving the Product Goal and accomplishing sprint objectives in any Scrum project. As an Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO), it’s essential to master at least three techniques to optimally manage your product backlog. This write-up examines three such techniques, i.e., Ordering by Value, Ordering by Risk and Uncertainty, and Ordering by Dependency.
I. Ordering by Value
The most common approach to ordering product backlog items (PBIs) is by their perceived value. This ensures the high-value items are developed and delivered first. However, the notion of ‘Value’ is rather subjective and depends on the organization, the stakeholders, the project, and the market situation. For instance, value could be associated with business value, learning value, or any other factors relevant to the project.
For example, consider a project to develop an e-commerce mobile app. The highest value items might include user registration, product catalogue, checkout, and payment. These PBIs can be assigned a value score from 1-100 based on their importance and put at the top of the backlog. Lower-value items, such as localization and social media sharing, can be ordered next.
| PBI | Value Score |
|---|---|
| User Registration | 100 |
| Product Catalog | 90 |
| Checkout | 80 |
| Payment | 70 |
| Localization | 60 |
| Social Media Sharing | 50 |
II. Ordering by Risk and Uncertainty
Some Product Owners prefer to handle high-risk tasks earlier in the project. This technique, widely known as Risk or Uncertainty Management, is ordered based on the level of uncertainty or the amount of learning required to understand and implement them.
For example, implementing a new and untested payment gateway can be risky for an e-commerce app development project because if it fails, the whole project could stumble. Hence, this task should be accomplished in the initial stages of the project, allowing more time to devise alternatives in case it fails.
| PBI | Risk Score |
|---|---|
| New Payment Gateway | 90 |
| User Registration | 10 |
| Product Catalog | 20 |
| Checkout | 30 |
| Localization | 30 |
| Social Media Sharing | 10 |
III. Ordering by Dependency
The third technique is to order PBIs based on their dependencies. This is particularly useful in complex projects with multiple teams or when several PBIs are related and must be developed in a certain sequence.
For example, in the e-commerce mobile app project, user registration must be implemented before personalized product recommendations. Likewise, having a product catalogue is a prerequisite for implementing checkout and payment.
| PBI | Dependency |
|---|---|
| User Registration | – |
| Personalized Recommendations | User Registration |
| Product Catalog | – |
| Checkout | Product Catalog |
| Payment | Checkout |
| Localization | – |
| Social Media Sharing | – |
In real-world scenarios, a combination of these techniques may be used based on the project’s context and complexities. It would be feasible to incorporate more than one ordering consideration, i.e., value, risk, and dependencies while ordering the backlog, which can be helpful in delivering the most value to the customers with minimum risk. As an A-CSPO, having expertise in these techniques can help satisfy customer needs while ensuring proper resource utilization and risk management.
Practice Test
True or False: The Product Backlog can be ordered using a combination of business value, risk, dependencies, and urgency among other factors.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The ordering of the Product Backlog is not restricted to one criterion but can be based on a combination of variables that drive value and reduce risk.
Which of the following techniques can be used to order a Product Backlog? (Multiple select)
- a) Alphabetical order
- b) Priority
- c) Cost of Delay
- d) Technical Complexity
Answer: b) Priority, c) Cost of Delay, d) Technical Complexity
Explanation: The Product Backlog is usually ordered based on priority, Cost of Delay, and technical complexity, among other factors. Alphabetical ordering is not considered a useful or effective approach.
True or False: Techniques to order a Product Backlog should be fixed and never changed.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The techniques to order a Product Backlog can change as the product evolves, market conditions change, or new learnings are discovered.
True or False: The Cost of Delay is a technique to order the Product Backlog that considers the financial impact of delaying work on items in the backlog.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Cost of Delay technique aims to quantify the cost implications of delaying specific items in the backlog, and this information can be used to decide the order of items in the backlog.
Which of these techniques favors the items that would deliver the most significant economic benefit if completed earlier?
- a) Weighted Shortest Job First
- b) MoSCoW Prioritization
- c) Cost Curve approach
- d) Business Value Points
Answer: a) Weighted Shortest Job First
Explanation: Weighted Shortest Job First is a prioritization model that favors items that would deliver the most significant economic benefit considering the time it will take to complete.
True or False: Using the MoSCoW prioritization technique, the order of priority is Must have, Should have, Could have and Won’t have.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The MoSCoW prioritization technique provides these four categories for prioritizing different items: Must have, Should have, Could have and Won’t have.
True or False: Value and complexity are unrelated and should not be considered together when ordering a Product Backlog.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Considering both the value and complexity of items can help balance the delivery of high-value functionality against the resources and risks involved.
How does ordering the Product Backlog support the Product Goal?
- a) It ensures that all stakeholders’ views are taken into account
- b) It guarantees the delivery of all items in the backlog
- c) It guides the team in delivering items that contribute most to the Product Goal
- d) It reduces the need for planning and estimation
Answer: c) It guides the team in delivering items that contribute most to the Product Goal
Explanation: By ordering the Product Backlog, the team prioritizes and works on tasks that align with and contribute most significantly to the Product Goal.
Why would you order items with high risk and low value early in a Product Backlog? (single select)
- a) To delay the start of more valuable work
- b) To provide maximum return on investment
- c) To address the risks and learn more about them early
- d) Because all items in the backlog should be treated equally
Answer: c) To address the risks and learn more about them early
Explanation: Even though an item might have low value, if it has a high risk, it might be beneficial to address it early and learn from it to prevent possible project derailment.
True or False: Lower priority items should always be placed at the end of the Product Backlog.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Lower priority items are placed later in the backlog. This allows the team to focus on more important tasks that will deliver more value sooner.
Interview Questions
What is a Product Goal in Scrum?
A Product Goal in Scrum is a long-term objective for the Scrum Team. It’s a commitment that provides a direction for the team and describes a future state of the product which can serve as a target for the Scrum Team to plan against.
What techniques can be used to order a Product Backlog to support a Product Goal?
Several techniques can be used to order a product backlog, including prioritizing by business value, Risk and Uncertainty, dependencies, minimizing work in progress, and buy-a-feature technique.
How does the technique of ordering by business value support the Product Goal?
Ordering by business value helps to ensure that the most valuable items to the business or customer are developed and delivered first. This supports the Product Goal by making sure the team is always working towards delivering the most valuable features or functionality.
What is the Risk and Uncertainty technique of ordering a Product Backlog?
Risk and Uncertainty is prioritizing product backlog items based on the level of risk or uncertainty involved. Items with higher risk or uncertainty might be ordered higher in the backlog to tackle those early in the project.
How can ordering by dependencies support the Product Goal?
Ordering by dependencies ensures that the items that are needed by other items are done first. This can help to prevent any blockers or delays later in the project, supporting steady progress towards the Product Goal.
What is the Minimizing Work In Progress technique for ordering a Product Backlog?
Minimizing Work In Progress involves limiting the number of items that are in progress at any given time. This can help to improve focus and efficiency, and reduce the risk of items being left unfinished.
How does the Buy-a-feature technique work?
In the Buy-a-feature technique, stakeholders are given a set budget and asked to ‘buy’ the features they consider most valuable or important from the product backlog. This helps to ensure that the most valued features are prioritized, supporting the Product Goal.
Why is ordering a Product Backlog important for meeting the Product Goal?
Ordering the Product Backlog ensures that the work is done in a manner that is most beneficial to the goals of the product. It allows the team to focus on high-value, high-priority items first, ensuring they make the most significant progress towards the Product Goal possible with their current resources.
Who is responsible for ordering the product backlog?
The Product Owner is primarily responsible for ordering the product backlog. They must consider the needs of all stakeholders, the capabilities of the team, and the overall Product Goal when deciding the order of items in the backlog.
Can the Scrum Team influence the order of the product backlog?
Yes, the Scrum Team can influence the ordering of the product backlog. While the final decision resides with the Product Owner, the development team can provide valuable input based on their technical knowledge and understanding.
Why should ordering the Product Backlog be a continuous activity?
The Product Backlog should be continuously refined and ordered to accommodate changes in business value, risk, dependencies, and other factors as they evolve throughout the project. This ensures that the backlog remains aligned with the Product Goal.
What factors could cause the order of the Product Backlog to change?
Factors such as evolving market conditions, customer feedback, the emergence of new risks or dependencies, or a change in the Product Goal could all necessitate a change in the order of the backlog.
Can a Product Owner re-order the backlog during a Sprint?
Yes, a Product Owner can re-order the backlog at any time. However, changes should not disrupt work that’s currently in progress during a Sprint. The team should only start work on new priorities once they have completed the current Sprint.
How does the Stakeholder engagement play a role in ordering the Product Backlog?
Stakeholder engagement is crucial. Their feedback and priorities can significantly influence the order of the product backlog as they often bring important perspectives about business value and risk that need to be taken into account by the Product Owner.
Can the product goal change and affect the Product Backlog order?
Yes, if the product goal changes, the Product Backlog order would likely need to be revised to align with the new goal.
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