Bolstering the Backlog

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Bolstering the Backlog

Ryan Shriver

July 20, 2009






One of the fundamental concepts in agile methods is that of a prioritized list of features for the team to develop against. This list of features is typically called a backlog and the roles with the backlog are simple: the “customer” prioritizes the work to do and the “team” agrees to work in priority order. Working in this manner allows the customer to change their mind and reprioritize dynamically while ensuring the team is always working on the highest priority items.
While it is common to prioritize features in a backlog, what is less common is to prioritize the stakeholders and their desired results. Creating a Results Backlog that clearly defines success--with measurable business objectives--will ensure the team stays focused on solving the right problem, not just the problem right.
The Product Backlog
Scrum, the most popular agile method, uses a Product Backlog to capture the set of features to be developed in future product releases.



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