create a Product Backlog that supports the achievement of a Product Goal.

The Product Backlog is fundamental within Scrum, an indispensable tool used to manage product development. The Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) is primarily responsible for shaping and managing the Product Backlog to accomplish the Product Goal. When correctly constructed and maintained, the Product Backlog is a potent device that can align team efforts towards the desired end-result.

Understanding the Product Backlog

To understand how to create a productive backlog, one must first apprehend what it is. Essentially, it’s a comprehensive list of all the features, amendments, and enhancements needed for a product, prioritized by sought value. This list is fluid, being regularly updated and modified to mirror changes in the market, customer requirements, and business or technical insights.

Creating a Product Backlog that Supports a Product Goal

Here are the key steps involved:

1. Formulate the Product Goal: The progress begins with stating the Product Goal – what you aim to accomplish. The aim should be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. A clearly defined Product Goal provides direction to the Scrum Team.
2. Understand User Needs: Understand and interact with your users to identify what they require. Using techniques like user stories, market research, and customer feedback will help you gather this information.
3. Create Product Backlog Items (PBIs): Transform the knowledge acquired above into PBIs (epics, features, user stories), which become part of the Product Backlog. Each PBI should add value to the product and bring closer to the Product Goal.
4. Prioritize the PBIs: Prioritization determines the order of work. Prioritize based on value (the greater the value, the higher the priority) and prepare it aligned with the Product Goal. Tools like MoSCoW (Must have, Should have, Could have, Won’t have) and the Kano model could be used for this purpose.
5. Refine the Product Backlog: The CSPO, together with the Scrum Team, should continuously refine these items, preparing for future Sprints. This procedure involves detailing, estimating, and ordering Backlog items. Backlog refinement should be viewed as an ongoing activity rather than a one-time event.

Examples

Product Goal

Create an intuitive, user-friendly mobile application for an online grocery store, aiming to increase mobile-driven sales by 30% in 6 months.

Identified User Needs

• A simple way to browse products,
• secure checkout,
• saved payment options,
• personalized recommendations,
• timely delivery options.

PBIs

• Filter by category, price, brand feature;
• easy navigation;
• quick and secure payment gateway;
• save customer payment details for quick checkout;
• prediction engine for personalized recommendations based on the previous purchases;
• multiple delivery options to choose from.

Prioritized PBIs

Based on what will bring the highest value and is least dependent on other PBIs, you might choose to prioritize ‘simple navigation’ and ‘filter by category, price, brand feature’ at the top.

It is crucial to remember that the Product Backlog is never complete and should always remain open to changes and modifications. Also, it’s not a checklist to be completed but a guide that helps the Scrum Team work towards their Product Goal. Regular and effective Backlog refinement is a significant characteristic of high-performing Scrum Teams. Therefore, a well-prepared and continuously refined Product Backlog indeed supports achieving the Product Goal.