Answering: “Which of the following practices might help the Product Owner minimize waste in developing and sustaining the Product Backlog?” (PSPO I)

Describing items in detail only when they are likely to be built, and removing items that have sat untouched for a long time, both cut waste. Handing off ownership or keeping a second backlog adds waste and confusion.

Exam Question

Which of the following practices might help the Product Owner minimize waste in developing and sustaining the Product Backlog?
(choose the best two answers)

• A. Hand off ownership of the Product Backlog to someone else.
• B. Only fully describe Product Backlog items when it seems likely they will be implemented.
• C. Remove items from the Product Backlog that have not been addressed in a long time.
• D. Avoid distracting the Scrum Team by maintaining newly gathered Product Backlog items in a separate Product Backlog until they are fully understood.

Correct Answer

B and C.

Why This Is the Correct Answer

Product Backlog refinement is described in the Scrum Guide as “an ongoing activity to add details, such as a description, order, and size.” Detail is most useful just before work starts. Writing detailed descriptions for items far down the list wastes effort, because many will change or never be built. Likewise, items that have been ignored for months make the backlog harder to read and to order. Removing them keeps it lean and transparent. If an idea still matters later, it can come back. Both practices help the Product Owner spend effort where it creates value.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A. Hand off ownership of the Product Backlog to someone else. The Product Owner may delegate work but stays accountable. Handing off ownership does not reduce waste and blurs accountability.

D. Keep new items in a separate backlog until fully understood. A product has one Product Backlog. A hidden second list reduces transparency and delays ordering decisions.

Exam Tip

Waste questions reward just-in-time detail and a lean backlog. Options that add extra lists, hand-offs or upfront detail are the wasteful ones.

Key Takeaways

• Add detail when an item is likely to be built.
• Prune items that have gone stale.
• Keep one Product Backlog per product.