AI Backlog Prioritization
Using AI tools for backlog prioritization offers a dynamic way to reshuffle the deck based on a different set of assumptions. In a previous post, I described how a lightweight Weighted Shortest Job...
View ArticleLightweight Approach to Quantifying Backlog Items for Prioritization
A challenging but critical aspect of the Product Owner's role is to ensure the backlog is prioritized so that the most valuable and important items are being worked by the team. For major initiatives,...
View ArticleBacklog Grooming: Scrum’s Red Headed Stepchild
Backlog grooming differentiates good scrum teams from ones that are just scraping by. Viewed by some people as optional, there is often a temptation to skip it in favor of remaining focused on the...
View ArticleDoes Agile Make Business Analysts Obsolete?
One of the most challenging aspects of adopting agile is requirements gathering and definition. The challenge is not because agile has complex methods for describing requirements, rather quite the...
View ArticleEvolving Team Structures Through the Product Development Lifecycle
One of the most fascinating management challenges is determining the best structure for Scrum teams based on the stage of the project. This does not mean the major waterfall phases like Analysis,...
View ArticleWho Should Write UATCs?
Experienced agile practitioners take for granted that detailed requirements are captured as user test cases. For organizations transitioning to agile, this is one of the more challenging practices for...
View ArticleEssential Agile Skills
As organizations adopt agile practices, there are several key skills that differentiate high-performing teams from mediocre teams: 1) Working in short timeboxes For a team that is accustomed to...
View ArticleIntroducing Scrum to a Team
For a Scrum Master introducing agile to a team, there is a balance between implementing concepts and practices at a pace that does not overwhelm the team and demonstrating the benefits as early as...
View ArticleDevelopers are from Mars, Product Owners are from Venus
Jenny was a seasoned product manager who was growing into the Product Owner role. She liked her additional responsibilities as Product Owner and the flexibility of the organization’s agile approach....
View ArticleIs the Product Owner a Team Member?
Scrum prescribes three roles: Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Team Members. The Team Members consist of developers, DBAs, QA people, and others who do the coding, testing, and other work to bring...
View ArticlePurposeful Personas and User Stories
The team was pumped to start work on the new Inventory SAAS product and eagerly anticipated the first user story writing workshop. Bert, the product owner, had been doing a lot of up front work to...
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