The Product Backlog is an ordered list of everything that is known to be needed in a product. It is the single source of requirements for any changes to be made to the product. Managed by the Product Owner, it evolves as the product and the market in which it operates evolve.
Characteristics of a product backlog
- Dynamic: Constantly changes to reflect new needs, market conditions, or insights.
- Ordered/Prioritized: Items are ranked based on importance, value, risk, and dependencies.
- Contains Everything: Includes features, functions, requirements, enhancements, and fixes.
- Estimated: Items often have estimates of effort (e.g., story points) to aid in planning.
Contents of the product backlog
Items in the backlog are typically expressed as User Stories but can also include:
- New features
- Bug fixes
- Technical debt reduction
- Research spikes
- Infrastructure improvements
Managing the product backlog
- Prioritization: The Product Owner is responsible for ordering items to maximize value.
- Refinement (Grooming): Regularly reviewing, detailing, estimating, and ordering items (see Backlog Grooming).
- Visibility: Ensuring the backlog is visible, transparent, and clear to all stakeholders.
A well-managed product backlog provides clarity on the product direction and ensures the development team is always working on the most valuable items.
