SCRUM Managing the Product Backlog 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who is accountable for ordering the items in the Product Backlog?
- The Product Owner (Correct answer)
- The Developers
- The Scrum Master
- The stakeholders
Correct answer: The Product Owner
The Product Owner is solely accountable for effective Product Backlog management, including ordering its items.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of Product Backlog refinement?
- To add detail, estimates, and order to backlog items (Correct answer)
- To assign tasks to specific developers
- To calculate the team's velocity
- To remove the Scrum Master's responsibilities
Correct answer: To add detail, estimates, and order to backlog items
Refinement breaks down and further defines items into smaller, more precise items as needed.
Question 3: Which characteristic best describes a healthy Product Backlog?
- It is an emergent, ordered, and dynamic list (Correct answer)
- It is fixed at the start of the project
- It contains only items for the current Sprint
- It is maintained exclusively by the Scrum Master
Correct answer: It is an emergent, ordered, and dynamic list
The Product Backlog is a living artifact that evolves as the product and environment change.
Question 4: How much of the Product Backlog should be detailed at any given time?
- Higher-ordered items more detailed than lower-ordered ones (Correct answer)
- Every item equally and fully detailed
- Only the very last item in the list
- None until the Sprint Planning meeting
Correct answer: Higher-ordered items more detailed than lower-ordered ones
Items at the top are clearer and more detailed because they are worked on sooner.
Question 5: Who is allowed to add items to the Product Backlog?
- Anyone, but the Product Owner remains accountable for it (Correct answer)
- Only the Product Owner may even suggest items
- Only the Scrum Master
- Only external stakeholders
Correct answer: Anyone, but the Product Owner remains accountable for it
Anyone can request changes, but the Product Owner decides and is accountable for the content.
Question 6: What single overarching objective gives the Product Backlog its long-term focus?
- The Product Goal (Correct answer)
- The Sprint Goal
- The Definition of Done
- The release plan
Correct answer: The Product Goal
The Product Goal is the commitment for the Product Backlog and describes a future state of the product.
Question 7: When can Product Backlog refinement take place?
- Continuously throughout the Sprint as needed (Correct answer)
- Only during Sprint Planning
- Only during the Sprint Review
- Only on the last day of the Sprint
Correct answer: Continuously throughout the Sprint as needed
Refinement is an ongoing activity and is not a formal Scrum event.
SCRUM Managing the Product Backlog 2
Who is accountable for ordering the items in the Product Backlog?