In the Certified Scrum Professional – ScrumMaster (CSP-SM) examination, one critical concept is the transition from Product Goal to Product Backlog. Understanding the techniques for making this move smooth helps ensure the successful implementation of Scrum. In this article, we will walk you through two techniques – Impact Mapping and User Story Mapping, that you can apply to move from Product Goal to Product Backlog.

Table of Contents

1. Impact Mapping

The first technique we will discuss is known as Impact Mapping. It is a potent visualisation tool that explicitly illustrates the road from your product goal to the tasks in your product backlog.

Impact mapping starts with the goal that the team has to achieve. This goal may vary across products or projects. This could be anything from improving user experience, increasing user engagement, to attracting more users.

From the goal, we derive actors or personas who can influence the achievement of the goal. These personas can be internal or external.

For each actor or personas identified, we determine how they can contribute or hinder the achievement of the set goal. These form the impacts.

The final step is to identify the deliverables or tasks needed to make the identified impact real. These are what will go into the product backlog.

For example, if our software product’s goal is to “improve user experience,” one of the significant actors could be “Application users.” The potential impact could be “Decreased loading time” and the deliverable to achieve this could be “Optimize the code.”

This progression forms a map connecting the deliverables (product backlog) back to our goal.

2. User Story Mapping

Another effective method is User Story Mapping. This method was introduced by Jeff Patton and it is a technique that arranges user stories to create a more holistic view of how they fit into the overall user experience.

The process starts with defining our user’s journey across the product. We then built sequences referred to as ‘user tasks’ that make up this journey.

We decompose each user task into user stories. The map gives structure to the vast array of user stories and helps to prioritize them into releases. The ultimate goal here is to ensure that each release is a usable slice of the product that delivers value to the user and contributes to achieving the product goal.

For instance, for an online shopping app, a user journey can be “browse for item -> select item -> add to cart -> check out.” This can then be decomposed into various user stories. A user story for ‘browse for item’ can be “As a User, I want to be able to search for items by their names so that I can quickly find what I am looking for.” All these user stories then end up in the product backlog.

These are two techniques that one can utilize to move from Product Goal to Product Backlog effectively. These methods not only ensure a systematic transition but also ensure alignment with the overall business objective, enhancing the chances of the Product Goal’s success.

Conclusion

In conclusion, transforming Product Goals into a Product Backlog is an integral part of the Scrum process, requiring strategic thought and planning. Utilizing techniques such as Impact Mapping and User Story Mapping can help streamline this process and create a more efficient and effective Scrum team.

Practice Test

In Scrum, a Product Backlog is a prioritized list of features or user stories for the product.

  • a) True
  • b) False

Answer: a) True

Explanation: The Product Backlog is indeed a prioritized list of features or functionalities that need to be incorporated in the product. It is under the product owner’s responsibility and is one of the main outputs of product planning in Scrum.

Select two techniques commonly used to convert Product Goals into the Product Backlog.

  • a) Gantt chart
  • b) User Story Mapping
  • c) Value Stream Mapping
  • d) Waterfall model

Answer: b) User Story Mapping, c) Value Stream Mapping

Explanation: User Story Mapping and Value Stream Mapping are techniques mostly used to convert Product Goals to Product Backlog. They help in visualizing the workflow, value generation and customers’ perspective.

The Product Owner’s primary responsibility is to manage the Product Backlog.

  • a) True
  • b) False

Answer: a) True

Explanation: In Scrum, the Product Owner is the person who is responsible for managing the Product Backlog. This involves prioritizing items, creating user stories, and ensuring that the team understands the items in the backlog.

Only the Product Owner can add items to the Product Backlog

  • a) True
  • b) False

Answer: b) False

Explanation: Although the Product Owner is responsible for the Product Backlog, other team members can also suggest items for addition.

The Product Backlog is set in stone and cannot be revised during a Sprint.

  • a) True
  • b) False

Answer: b) False

Explanation: The Product Backlog is a living document—that is, it evolves over time. It can and should be updated and revised as new information becomes available, even during Sprints.

Refining the Product Backlog involves which of the following activities:

  • a) Ensuring that the Backlog is properly prioritized
  • b) Adding detailed descriptions to Backlog items
  • c) Creating a mood board
  • d) Allocating Backlog items to specific Sprints

Answer: a) Ensuring that the Backlog is properly prioritized, b) Adding detailed descriptions to Backlog items

Explanation: Refining the Backlog involves prioritizing backlog items and making sure they are clearly described. Though managing backlog item allocation can be a part of the process, it isn’t always, and creating a mood board is unrelated.

The use of Story Points is compulsory in Scrum for sizing items in the Product Backlog.

  • a) True
  • b) False

Answer: b) False

Explanation: While Story Points are commonly used in Scrum, their usage is not enforced under Scrum rules or principles. Teams are allowed to use any appropriate method for sizing.

Moving from Product Goal to Product Backlog involves decomposing the goals into actionable items.

  • a) True
  • b) False

Answer: a) True

Explanation: The process of moving from Product Goals to Product Backlog requires breaking down these goals into smaller, actionable tasks that can be accomplished by the Scrum team.

A good Product Backlog item should be DEEP, which stands for Detailed, Estimated, Emergent and Prioritized.

  • a) True
  • b) False

Answer: a) True

Explanation: DEEP is an acronym often used to describe characteristics of a great Product Backlog. The items in it should be Detailed just enough, Estimated, Emergent (evolving), and Prioritized.

Selecting the right items at the right time from the Product Backlog for delivery depends on:

  • a) The complexity of the product
  • b) The set product goal
  • c) The capacity of the team
  • d) The urgency of stakeholders need

Answer: b) The set product goal, c) The capacity of the team, d) The urgency of stakeholders need

Explanation: Choosing the right items from the Product Backlog depends on whether it aligns with the set product goal, the team’s capacity to deliver, and the urgency of the need from stakeholders.

Interview Questions

What is the importance of having a Product Goal in Scrum?

The Product Goal in Scrum provides a long-term objective for the Scrum Team. It provides a clear direction and helps to align the team towards a common end result.

What is a Product Backlog in Scrum?

The Product Backlog is a prioritized list of features, functions, requirements, enhancements, and fixes that need to be done in a project. It serves as the primary source of requirements for any changes to be made to the product.

Can you mention two techniques for moving from Product Goal to Product Backlog?

Two techniques for moving from Product Goal to Product Backlog are Grooming and Prioritization. Grooming involves refining and elaborating on Product Backlog items, while Prioritization involves ranking the items based on their importance and relevance to the Product Goal.

What is the role of the Product Owner in moving from Product Goal to Product Backlog?

The Product Owner is primarily responsible for managing the Product Backlog. This includes clearly expressing Product Backlog items and ensuring that they are aligned with the Product Goal.

How does User Story Mapping serve as a technique for moving from Product Goal to Product Backlog?

User Story Mapping helps in visualizing the journey of a product, from initiation to completion. It aids in breaking down the Product Goal into manageable chunks (user stories) that can be arranged in the Product Backlog.

What is the significance of Prioritization in creating a Product Backlog?

Prioritization helps to determine the order of execution of Product Backlog items. It ensures that the most critical features, from the perspective of achieving the Product Goal, are developed and delivered first.

What is the role of the Development Team in the process of moving from Product Goal to Product Backlog?

The Development Team is involved in Grooming sessions where they provide estimates for each item on the Product Backlog. This helps the Product Owner in effectively prioritizing these items.

How does the technique of INVEST criteria assist in moving from Product Goal to Product Backlog?

The INVEST criteria (Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimatable, Sized Appropriately, Testable) help in writing high-quality Product Backlog items. It enhances the ease of understanding, estimating, and prioritizing these items, thus aiding in achieving the Product Goal.

What is the impact of having a frequently updated Product Backlog on achieving the Product Goal?

A frequently updated Product Backlog ensures that any changes in business requirements, technology, or market situations are promptly reflected in the project plan. This ensures that the team is always working towards the current Product Goal.

How does the MoSCoW method assist in moving from Product Goal to Product Backlog?

The MoSCoW method helps in prioritizing Product Backlog items as Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won’t have. This aids in understanding and aligning the work according to the criticality of the items towards achieving the Product Goal.

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