The Product Backlog: 14 First Principles to Help Your Scrum Team Succeed

TL; DR: Product Backlog Principles

Contrary to popular belief, the Product Owner does not have dictatorial powers regarding the composition and order of the Product Backlog. Instead, Scrum as a framework is based on a delicate system of checks and balances, collaboration, and joint decision-making to mitigate risk; for example, the Product Owner falling in love with their solution over the problem of the customers. Learn more about critical Product Backlog principles, from the size and growth of the Product Backlog to whether a Product Backlog is necessary in the first place. (Some lean practitioners dispute its existence is justified.)

Product Backlog Principles — Age-of-Product.com
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Scrum Developer Anti-Patterns

TL; DR: Scrum Developer Anti-Patterns

After covering the anti-patterns of the Scrum Master, the Product Owner, and the stakeholders, this article addresses Scrum Developer anti-patterns, covering all Scrum Events and the Product Backlog artifact. Continue reading and learn more about what to look out for if you want to support your teammates who build the Increment.

Scrum Developer Anti-Patterns — Scrum Anti-Patterns Guide 2022 — Age-of-Product.com
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Three Common Developer Blunders in 5:05 Minutes—Making Your Scrum Work #14

TL; DR: Common Developer Blunders — When Your Scrum Team Lacks Alignment

There are plenty of failure possibilities with Scrum. Given that Scrum is a framework with a reasonable yet short “manual,” this effect should not surprise anyone. While it is common to first look outside our team for impediments, such as dysfunctional processes or other systemic issues, I would advise starting with the Scrum team’s way of collaboration: Are we aligned on the why, what, and how? Otherwise, the three following Developer blunders may diminish the team effectiveness.

📺 Join me and explore the consequences of these Scrum Developer blunders and what you can do about them in a little more than five minutes.

Three Common Developer Blunders in 5:05 Minutes—Making Your Scrum Work #14 — Age-of-Product.com

Update: I am running a poll on LinkedIn—join the voting: “What common ways have you observed how Developers diminish the value creation of their own work?”

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The Developers Code Fallacy — Making Your Scrum Work #9

TL; DR: The Developers Code Fallacy — They Should Talk to Customers, Too, Though

There are plenty of failure possibilities with Scrum. Given that Scrum is a framework with a reasonable yet short “manual,” this effect should not surprise anyone. The Developers Code Fallacy starts with the idea that Developers are rare and expensive and should focus on creating code. Business analysts or customer care agents can talk to customers instead. However, in practice, it has a diminishing effect on a Scrum team’s productivity and creativity. It is a sign for an organization still profoundly stuck in industrial paradigm thinking.

Join me and explore the reasons and the consequences of this Scrum anti-pattern in 110 seconds.

The Developers Code Fallacy — Making Your Scrum Work #9 — Age-of-Product.com
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20 Questions from New Scrum Master to the Developers

TL; DR: 20 Questions from New Scrum Master to the Development Team

From Scrum Master to Development Team members, this set of questions addresses the foundations of a Scrum Team capability to build valuable products: technical excellence and what it takes to achieve this proficiency level. The questions have been modeled after some basic principles that high performing teams have in common—from keeping technical debt at bay to collaboratively creating a Product Backlog.

Download a printable template for your convenience.

20 Questions from New Scrum Master to the Development Team — Age-of-Product.com
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Download the 20 Questions from New Scrum Master to the Development Team Questionnaire

Welcome to the 20 Questions from Scrum Master to the Development Team Download Page

From Scrum Master to Development Team members, this set of questions addresses the foundations of a Scrum Team capability to build valuable products: technical excellence and what it takes to achieve this proficiency level. The questions have been modeled after some basic principles that high performing teams have in common. Download a printable template for your convenience.

20 Questions from New Scrum Master to the Development Team — Age-of-Product.com
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