True. Dependencies between Product Backlog items can affect the order the Product Owner chooses. A high-value item may need to wait until something it depends on is done.
Exam Question
True or False: Dependencies could influence how the Product Owner orders Product Backlog items.
A. True
B. False
Correct Answer
A. True
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The Product Owner orders the Product Backlog to maximize value, but value is not the only factor. If one item cannot be built until another is finished, the order has to reflect that. Dependencies with other teams or systems can also shape what is feasible in a given Sprint. The Developers help here because they understand technical dependencies, and the Product Owner remains accountable for the final order. Reducing dependencies over time gives the Product Owner more freedom to order purely by value.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
B. False Ignoring dependencies would lead to an order the team cannot actually follow, causing delays and blocked work.
Exam Tip
Ordering questions often list value, risk and dependencies together. All three are valid inputs for the Product Owner.
Key Takeaways
- Dependencies can change the order of Product Backlog items.
- The Developers help the Product Owner see technical dependencies.
- The Product Owner stays accountable for the final order.
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More PSPO I exam questions
- In the middle of the Sprint, the customer decides that there are 2 new features she wants. The Product Owner could:
- A Scrum Team has been working on a product for 9 Sprints. A new Product Owner who is new to Scrum joins the team and understands she is accountable for Product Backlog. However, she is unsure about the purpose of the Product Backlog. She has read that the Product Backlog should be a list of all user features for the product. She goes to the Scrum Master asking where to put the other types of requirements that are going to be taken into account. Are all of the following types of requirements acceptable on a Product Backlog?
- Who is accountable for releasing the most valuable product possible?
- How much time must a Product Owner spend with the Developers?” (PSPO I)
- Which is NOT a valid consideration when ordering a Product Backlog?