Refining the Refinement | Product Backlog Refinement or Grooming Basics

[@dangardiner5654]

So useful. When addressing the volume of work in the backlog it's so good to have a clear set of steps with which we can maintain focus on what's valuable from the refinement sessions. I have a session tomorrow and will try to guide the PO and the rest of the team through these stages (We do a weekly refinement session as new information is realised). The key thing I aim to achieve is participation from all of the team so that the PBI is well understood before committing it to a sprint.

[@AgileStateofMind]

Great takeaways, good luck with that!

[@brighterthandiamond]

The best I have heard so far! Short, loaded and hit the main point! Thank you!

[@AgileStateofMind]

Delighted to read your comment! Thanks!

[@GerardoMartinez-zc8tt]

Thank you Mary, another good summary about scrum ceremonies.

[@vamsiskgk3303]

Thank you so much for your valuable Information. Your explanation is crisp and clear.

[@AgileStateofMind]

You are most welcome, that's great to hear!

[@kofioppong1288]

Thank for this great presentation!!

[@AgileStateofMind]

Happy to deliver some value 🙂

[@markgoetz4153]

great content - every PM or team lead should see this

[@AgileStateofMind]

Thank you, Mark!

[@Genwellness]

Are you going to do a video on the creation of working agreements? If you have already, please share the link!

[@AgileStateofMind]

Hey Bret, I think right now the info is scattered around in different videos. I might make one about it soon since I will be working on #workingagreements with the teams soon :)

[@AgileStateofMind]

Hey Bret, the video about Working Agreements has just dropped: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIm2mniJos2iq6c :)

[@primki8]

Thank you, this was very informational and also very easy to understand.

[@AgileStateofMind]

Glad to hear it, thanks!

[@nouranal-refai1548]

Thank you, it's really great video

[@srengano]

Very good Explanation !!!

[@mikekay1247]

Great explanation, thanks for sharing.

[@AgileStateofMind]

Glad you liked it!

[@mexajrg]

Thank you!

[@saweranabi7786]

💯👍👍

[@joedent3323]

😊

[@prasadc-ic9jc]

when do everyone write user stories ?does Product owner writes user stories or the devs?

[@AgileStateofMind]

It's an ongoing exercise and anyone can write them. The PO is the accountable to have the backlog prepared but can and should delegate the task

[@chariskadosh2715]

Great presentation skills! I have a question: When should the team meet to refine the backlog? Which scrum ceremony? I always thought the SM and PO can chose a time apart from the major scrum ceremonies...but if you have to involve the whole team, how do you go about that?

[@AgileStateofMind]

Thanks, Charis! Yes, refinement is supposed to be an ongoing activity, not an event in Scrum. But the easiest way to put everyone on the same page is by creating a meeting and going through the items to be done next Sprint - providing definition & clarity. This could be done offline but depends on the team might be better to have a recurrent meeting.

[@TTTrainTTT]

Hi Maria! First of all thank you so much for all your work. I’ve learnt from these sessions. Quick question to you regarding the following scenario. Let’s say I’m done with a 2 month long discovery/ elicitation session and I have high-level user stories (by high level I mean stories which don’t have the full fledged details) in my Product Backlog. At what point do I go about grooming the stories / getting additional inputs from the customer for sprint 1 and when do I start grooming other stories (stories not in sprint 1). Thank you! Also is there a medium through which people can arrange 1 on 1 sessions with you to ask questions like the above?

[@AgileStateofMind]

Hey, thanks for the comment. Well depending on when the sprint starts and how much work the team thinks they can fit in it. I would suggest starting with 2 refinement sessions per week to get the stories ready for Sprint 1 and then continue on demand. Usually having at least 1 session per weeks helps creating a habit, as I say in the video :)

[@AgileStateofMind]

You can set up coaching sessions with me via Sol: app.sol.earth/p/maria

[@melodycnebo]

should the entire team be present for refinement?

[@AgileStateofMind]

That would be ideal, yes!

[@carmenporras8417]

Is Backlog Refinement same as Sprint Planning ? if not then what is the difference between the 2 meetings ? Thank you

[@AgileStateofMind]

Hey, those are different things. Refinement is for making sure everyone understands what will be selected to work on during Sprint Planning. Some refinement is done on the second part of the Sprint Planning but if no collaboration was done before - I'm afraid it could go infinitely....

[@samgougouwhite5085]

Sexy instructor )))

[@ChrisAthanas]

This is all standard advice and it's bad

[@AgileStateofMind]

What don't you like about it?