What is a major challenge in managing a Product Backlog?
One major challenge in managing a Product Backlog is that PBIs vary in their level of detail and clarity.
High-level items often start vague and must be broken down into smaller, clearer pieces (levels of decomposition) as the team gets closer to building them. This ongoing refinement introduces complexity:
- Some PBIs are too big to estimate or plan around.
- Others are too detailed too early, creating wasted effort.
- Teams can end up with a confusing mix of vague initiatives and granular tasks in the same list.
Striking the right balance between just enough detail and just-in-time refinement is a constant juggling act.
Works Consulted
- Product Backlog Levels of Decomposition](https://www.scrum.org/resources/blog/product-backlog-levels-decomposition) | Scrum.Org | Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Connections
follows:: Decomposition Adds Value Only When It Adds Clarity