Final answer:
The product backlog is a prioritized list in Agile methodologies like Scrum, ranked based on several criteria and worked on by potentially multiple teams. Each product has a single backlog, with the highest priority items broken down into manageable stories during release planning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of Product Backlog
The product backlog is an essential component of the Agile framework, particularly in methodologies like Scrum. It is a prioritized list of everything that might be needed in the product and is the single source of requirements for any changes to be made to the product. Here are the characteristics in detail:
- Ranking based on various factors: The features in the product backlog are ranked based on multiple criteria such as business value, technical value, risk management, or strategic fitness. Higher ranking items represent more immediate value or necessity to the project, and these are usually tackled first.
- It is common practice for multiple teams to work on a single product backlog when there are multiple Scrum Teams working on the same product. This helps ensure everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals.
- The highest ranking items are typically decomposed into smaller user stories during release planning to ensure they can be completed in forthcoming sprints.
- Each product should have one product backlog, which may contain a mix of large and very large features. These items are usually broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces as they approach the top of the backlog and are closer to being worked on.
Note that the characterization of the lowest ranking items being decomposed during release planning is not typically how the backlog is managed. Typically, it's the high-priority items that are broken down so they can be completed in a timely manner.