A Product Backlog is needed for every product, not for every team, portfolio or program. Several Scrum Teams on one product share a single Product Backlog.
Exam Question
A separate Product Backlog is needed for every:
(choose the best answer)
A. Product.
B. Scrum Team.
C. Portfolio.
D. Program.
E. All of the above.
Correct Answer
A. Product.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The Scrum Guide describes the Product Backlog as “an emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product.” Because it describes needs of a product, there is one per product. When multiple Scrum Teams work on the same product, the Guide says they “should share the same Product Goal, Product Backlog, and Product Owner.” Each team does have its own Sprint Backlog for its Sprint. A team-level Product Backlog would split the product’s ordering and hide dependencies. Portfolios and programs are groupings above the product level and are not artifacts in Scrum.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
B. Scrum Team. Teams share the product’s Product Backlog. Each team has its own Sprint Backlog, which is a different artifact.
C. Portfolio. A portfolio holds several products, each with its own Product Backlog.
D. Program. Program is not a Scrum term, and it does not get its own Product Backlog.
E. All of the above. Only the product needs a Product Backlog, so this option is too broad.
Exam Tip
Do not confuse Product Backlog with Sprint Backlog in multi-team questions. Product Backlog is per product; Sprint Backlog is per team per Sprint.
Key Takeaways
- Each product has one Product Backlog.
- Each Scrum Team has its own Sprint Backlog.
- Teams on one product share the Product Backlog.
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