Refine

We explain how agile practices of backlog refinement and grooming, distinguishing between the two concepts. Grooming is presented as the high-level maintenance of the backlog, focusing on keeping it orderly and prioritized. This includes activities like re-ordering work items, updating their statuses, and ensuring the backlog view is clean. In contrast, refinement is the more detailed process of adding clarity to the content inside the work items. This involves writing clear descriptions, establishing a definition of done, and ensuring the team has a shared understanding of the work required for items like Epics, Features, and User Stories.

Refinement and grooming are essential preparatory activities that occur before a sprint begins, typically on a regular cadence led by the Product Owner. The recommended approach is "progressive elaboration," where teams first refine the high-level item (an Epic in Jira or a Feature in Azure Boards) before breaking it down into smaller, more detailed User Stories. The video stresses that having a well-refined and well-groomed backlog is the foundation for a successful sprint, as it leads directly to more efficient Sprint Planning, better daily stand-ups, and smoother sprint reviews.

Finally, the we demonstrate these practices in both Jira and Azure Boards. The process involves clicking into a work item to add descriptive details, defining the child stories beneath it, and then grooming the backlog by dragging and dropping items to reflect their correct priority. By investing time in these ceremonies, a team can create a backlog of well-understood, high-quality items that are ready for the team to commit to during Sprint Planning.