How to organize Multiteam Product Backlog Refinement according the LeSS in fully dispersed environment
Part 1 (Overall Product Backlog Refinement, Overall PBR) - to begin the day with backlog items declaration and their prioritization (1h, 8:45 - 9:45), at this meeting as usual present team’s representatives + Product Owner + co-founders on the single Zoom call.
Part 2 (Multi-team PBR) - let's imagine huge hall with 4 tables, and around each table were gathered developers from different teams (they were mixed for the sake of sharing knowledge and involving everyone into discussion). And then co-founders (business or clients/integrators) are going by circle from one table to another and discussing topics (backlog items) with this mixed groups.
?Of course, co-founders agreed upon which topics (items) can be covered by whom (here also can be mixing), but near one table in one moment of time we will have only one co-founder.
Applying to our distributed environment, we will have 4 different Zoom calls, and co-founders will connect to them (like to sit down to the table) and leave the table (Zoom call) according to the schedule. Every co-founder will spend near the table nearly 45 minutes, and during this time it is necessary to clarify closer to 4-5 backlog items, so it is highly necessary to follow the time schedule.
If we have external clients, he will connect to us on the meeting and discuss with mixed group their requirements in the precise time.
?Everything should take 4h, 10:00-15:00, with break for lunch 13:00-14:00.
Part 3 (Debrief) - mixed groups and all co-founders are gathering together on the separate Zoom link and moving through all backlog items, to discuss differences in understanding different items and to underline best conclusions. Then we will have the teams which are practically have shared understanding of all items in the backlog and they are ready to take any items into the development.
This part will take 2h, 15:00 - 17:00.
Theory of LeSS PBR's https://less.works/…/framew…/product-backlog-refinement.html
Advices of my favorite teacher Alexey Krivitsky https://www.dhirubhai.net/…/running-multi-team-scrum-scalin…/