Why Is There No Standard Structure for Product Backlog Items?
PBIs lack a standard structure definition because Scrum Is Intentionally Incomplete and domain-agnostic, there is no single best way to structure Product Backlog Items. Even within the same domain, different types of work may require different attributes.
Even though the Scrum Guide only calls out three attributes that are typically updated in backlog refinement, even those are referred to as examples and not requirements.
Metaphor
A one-size-fits-all Product Backlog Item is like a muumuu—baggy, generic, and unflattering to every use case- because trying to fit everything in one template strips away the structure that makes any single item effective. Scrum leaves room on purpose—so you can tailor PBIs to the shape of the work, not stuff everything into the same oversized outline.
Works Consulted
- Product Backlog Item Attributes | Scrum.org | Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.