The Mnemonic INVEST

The INVEST acronym is a widely used guideline to ensure that Product Backlog items are well-defined and manageable. Each letter in INVEST represents a critical attribute that enhances the quality and effectiveness of Product Backlog items.

Exam Question

What can the mnemonic INVEST be used for?
(choose the best answer)
A. Determining the order of the Product Backlog.
B. Managing stakeholders.
C. Refining Product Backlog items.
D. Estimating work.

Correct Answer

C. Refining Product Backlog items.

Explanation

Correct Answer

C. Refining Product Backlog items:
The mnemonic INVEST stands for Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, and Testable. These attributes help ensure that Product Backlog items are clear, concise, and actionable. By applying the INVEST criteria, teams can improve the quality of their backlog items, making them easier to prioritize, estimate, and deliver.

Why the Other Options Are Less Relevant

A. Determining the order of the Product Backlog:
While INVEST helps in creating well-defined backlog items, it does not directly provide a method for ordering them. Ordering is typically based on value, urgency, dependencies, and strategic alignment.

B. Managing stakeholders:
INVEST focuses on the attributes of Product Backlog items, not on stakeholder management. Effective stakeholder management involves communication, collaboration, and understanding their needs and expectations.

D. Estimating work:
Although one of the attributes in INVEST is “Estimable,” the mnemonic as a whole is not a tool specifically for estimating work but for ensuring that backlog items are well-defined to facilitate estimation and other processes.

Benefits of Applying INVEST to Product Backlog Items

• Clarity and Focus: Ensures that each backlog item is clear and focused, reducing ambiguity and misunderstandings.
• Prioritization: Helps in creating items that are easier to prioritize based on their value and urgency.
• Planning: Facilitates better planning and estimation by ensuring items are well-defined and manageable.
• Delivery: Enhances the team’s ability to deliver value consistently by working on items that are actionable and testable.

Relevance to the PSPBM Skills Exam

Understanding and applying the INVEST criteria is crucial for the PSPBM Skills exam. It demonstrates your ability to refine and manage Product Backlog items effectively, ensuring that they contribute to delivering valuable and high-quality products.

Key Takeaways

• Independent: Each item should be self-contained and not dependent on others.
• Negotiable: Items should be flexible and open to discussion and adjustment.
• Valuable: Each item must deliver value to the customer or user.
• Estimable: Items should be clear enough to estimate their size and complexity.
• Small: Items should be small enough to be completed within a single Sprint.
• Testable: Items must have clear acceptance criteria to validate their completion.

Conclusion

Applying the INVEST criteria to Product Backlog items is essential for ensuring they are well-defined, manageable, and valuable. This practice supports effective backlog refinement, planning, and delivery, aligning with the principles of Agile and Scrum. For more information on preparing for the PSPBM Skills exam, visit our Professional Scrum Product Backlog Management Skills PSPBM™ Exam Prep.