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New Scrum Guide 2020 - Who is responsible for the Sprint Backlog items?

Last post 09:40 pm November 24, 2020 by Sidharth Bathia
3 replies
Sidharth Bathia
08:26 pm November 24, 2020

Hi,

I have a question. Keeping the new Scrum guide in mind, who is now responsible for making sure that all the items in Sprint Backlog items are worked on? If a item is ignored, missed or completed who is accountable for it? Developers in the Scrum Team or the whole Scum Team itself?

While on one hand the Scrum guide states "The Scrum Team is responsible for all product-related activities from stakeholder collaboration, verification, maintenance, operation, experimentation, research and development, and anything else that might be required"

on the other hand the Scrum guide also mentions "The Sprint Backlog is a plan by and for the Developers. It is a highly visible, real-time picture of the work that the Developers plan to accomplish during the Sprint in order to achieve the Sprint Goal. "

Thank you in advance for helping me understand.

Ian Mitchell
09:00 pm November 24, 2020

who is now responsible for making sure that all the items in Sprint Backlog items are worked on?

No-one is responsible for making sure that all the items in the Sprint Backlog are worked on. That isn't the objective here. The Sprint Backlog is just a forecast of the work currently thought necessary for the Sprint Goal to be met. The people who undertake that work, which continues to emerge and evolve during the Sprint, are all Developers.

Sidharth Bathia
09:20 pm November 24, 2020

Thank You Ian. That straightens me out!

One more questions. During inspection, if the Product Backlog item does not meet the Definition of "Done". Who would be accountable for that?

Sidharth Bathia
09:40 pm November 24, 2020

Ian. I think i answered my own question. Correct me if i am wrong. The developer would be responsible if the PBI do not meet the Definition of Done. The Scrum guide clearly states it too.

"The Developers are required to conform to the Definition of Done."

Obvious things. But just making sure i am still thinking right and not missing anything.

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