Sprints and planning · Taskending editorial team
How to run a backlog refinement session
Refinement makes upcoming work understandable and selectable. It is not a status meeting that must read the entire backlog aloud.
Updated: · 1 min read
How to apply it
Open a small number of issues likely to matter at the next planning session. Discuss the need, acceptance criteria, responsible team and dependencies. Track research separately when information is missing. Write decisions into Taskending as the discussion ends.
A concrete example
Instead of estimating ten unclear requests, clarify three important ones. If an API decision blocks one of them, identify the decision task and its owner rather than assigning an arbitrary eight-hour estimate.
What to watch for
Refinement does not turn every idea into a delivery promise. Do not try to resolve missing evidence through a longer argument. The number of records discussed is not the measure of success.
How to check the outcome
Selected candidates should be understandable and uncertain ones should have a next step. Repeating the same question at the next meeting signals an inadequate decision record.
Try it in your own workflow.
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