Understanding Scrum Artifacts
Saba Khergiani
Management Consultant - Business Strategy & Digitalization | Ph.D. in Management | Agile Leadership | PMI-ACP
*This article is created for the PMI-ACP exam, and the topics discussed align with the exam's knowledge areas and principles.
In Scrum, artifacts are key tools that provide visibility and transparency, helping teams manage work effectively. While there are only three primary Scrum artifacts, each plays a crucial role in driving progress, maintaining focus, and ensuring alignment with business goals.
Let’s break down these essential components:
1?? Product Backlog: The Dynamic To-Do List
The Product Backlog is a prioritized list of all the work needed to create or enhance the product. It contains features, bug fixes, technical tasks—essentially, anything that adds value. Key points to remember:
? Owned by the Product Owner—they prioritize items based on business value.
? Dynamic & Evolving—items can be added, removed, or reprioritized as needed.
? Backlog Refinement (or Grooming)—a regular process where the team reviews, clarifies and adjusts items to keep the backlog relevant and manageable.
Pro Tip: The Product Backlog isn’t a static document; it’s a living artifact that adapts to changes in customer needs, technology, and market conditions.
2?? Sprint Backlog: The Sprint’s Game Plan
The Sprint Backlog is a subset of the Product Backlog, consisting of items the team commits to completing during the sprint. It includes: ?? Selected Product Backlog Items (PBIs) chosen during Sprint Planning ?? A clear plan for how to deliver those items ?? Tasks broken down for daily tracking
What makes it powerful?
?? High Visibility: Often displayed on physical boards or digital tools—think “information radiators” that showcase progress to the entire team.
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?? Team Ownership: Only the development team updates it, ensuring accuracy and accountability.
?? Forecast, Not a Contract: It’s a living document that evolves during the sprint as the team learns and adapts.
3?? Product Increment: The Tangible Outcome
The Product Increment is the sum of all completed work from the current sprint plus the value of previous increments. It represents a potentially shippable product—even if it’s not released to customers yet. Critical elements include:
?? Definition of Done (DoD): The agreed-upon criteria that determine when an increment is truly complete. This could involve passing specific tests, meeting performance benchmarks, or fulfilling design requirements.
?? Continuous Feedback Loop: After each sprint, the increment is reviewed to gather feedback from stakeholders, ensuring the product is on the right track.
Why it matters: The Increment is proof of progress, providing a concrete measure of how much value has been delivered.
Bringing It All Together
Scrum artifacts aren’t just documentation — they’re the backbone of transparency and alignment in Agile teams.
?? How does your team ensure visibility and alignment with Scrum artifacts?