Definition
The product backlog is a list of requirements that an Agile team maintains for a product. It consists of features, bugs, non-functional requirements mainly, to deliver a viable product. The product owner prioritizes those product backlog items (PBI’s) based on considerations such as risk, business value, dependencies, size, and date needed.
Origin
Combination of the words “Back” and “Log”. Symbolized originally in the 1680’s; originally as “a large log at the back of a fire”. Used in figurative sense from 1880’s, meaning “something stored up for later use”. Backlog was initially used in the context of Product Development in 1980’s.
Pros
- It’s a simple list of things to be completed by the team, decided collectively.
- It’s subject to change according to priority and need of the hour.
- It helps eliminate dependencies by putting items that are dependent on the completion of other items below the ones they are dependent on, the dependencies are resolved. It’s that simple, and both the team and the customer can understand it.
- It gives the customer clarity, and control over the deliverables and he has a clear idea about what the team is currently working on.
Cons
- Difficult to manage tasks which have external dependencies.
- Backlog becomes difficult to manage when the teams aren’t co-located.
Further Reading
- “The Art of doing twice the work in half the time”, by Jeff Sutherland.
- “Essential Scrum: A Practical Guide to the Most Popular Agile Process“, by Kenneth S. Rubin.
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