Scrum Artifacts: A Comprehensive Guide
Definition: Scrum artifacts represent work or value to provide transparency and opportunities for inspection and adaptation. They are specifically designed to maximize transparency of key information so that everybody has the same understanding.
1. The Three Main Scrum Artifacts
- Product Backlog
- Sprint Backlog
- Increment/Product Increment
2. Product Backlog
Core Characteristics (DEEP):
- Detailed Appropriately
- Emergent
- Estimated
- Prioritized
2.1 Product Backlog Items (PBIs)
- Features/functionalities
- Technical changes
- Defects
- Technical work
- Knowledge acquisition
Example PBI Types:
- Feature: "As a customer service representative, I want to create a ticket for customer support"
- Technical: "Refactor the Login class to throw an exception"
- User Story: "Subscription should be charged through Direct Carrier Billing"
3. Sprint Backlog
The Sprint Backlog is the set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint plus a plan for delivering them.
3.1 Key Facts About Sprint Backlog
- Created anew for each Sprint
- Created by the Team itself
- Contains only committed tasks
- Tasks are broken into manageable pieces
- Team members sign up for tasks
- Can be modified during sprint
4. Product Increment
The sum of all Product Backlog items completed during a Sprint and all previous Sprints. Must be "Done" and usable, regardless of whether the Product Owner decides to release it.
5. Definition of Done
Common criteria include:
- Code completed and reviewed
- Unit tests written and passing
- Integration testing completed
- Documentation updated
- Product Owner acceptance
6. Velocity and Planning
Velocity: The amount of work completed in a sprint
- Typically 8 story points for 2-week sprint (80% allocation)
- Used for sprint and release planning
- Helps in predicting delivery timelines
Exam Tips
- Remember DEEP characteristics of Product Backlog
- Understand the differences between Product and Sprint Backlog
- Know who is responsible for each artifact
- Understand the concept of "Done" vs "Accepted"
- Be familiar with velocity calculations