🧩 Pieces that Clicked – Week of 07/18-07/24
I’m thinking in public because clarity doesn’t come fully formed—it’s assembled piece by piece. These are the ideas that fit into place this week. As I piece things together, feel free to scan the table—maybe one of these fits a gap you’ve been trying to close.
My Top Five
Access Without Clarity Is Not Transparency
The Product Goal Turns Sprint Reviews Into Strategic Checkpoints
A Product Goal Must Evolve When Invalidated
Abandoning a Product Goal Is an Act of Empiricism
Sprint Reviews Can Evolve Beyond Demos
Let's Learn Together
I don’t have all the answers—this is a space for exploring ideas, not preaching them.
- What resonated?
- What would you challenge?
- What did this remind you of in your work?
Use the feedback bubble in the bottom-right corner—even a short note is valuable.
The Rest
Scrum Guide on Product Backlog Item Attributes
No Single Structure Fits All Product Backlog Items
Work Item Type and Attribute Complexity Reduce Transparency
Work Item Types Improve Transparency
The Right Number of Work Item Types Maximizes Transparency
Decomposition Adds Value Only When It Adds Clarity
Over-Refinement and Under-Refinement Are Equally Risky
Refine Just Enough to Support Effective Delivery
Decomposition Levels Distinguish Broad Goals from Detailed Work
Backlog Levels Are Shaped by Tools, Not Rules
Backlog Transparency is not One-Size-Fits-All
Shared Attributes Across Work Item Types Improve Transparency
Mandatory Work Item Attributes Create Entry Friction
Backlog Items Are Hypotheses, Not Promises
Backlog Completion Is Not the Same as Goal Achievement
A Clear Product Goal Gives Direction to the Backlog
The Product Goal Improves Transparency
One Product Goal Keeps the Team Moving in a Single Direction
Finish or Abandon Rule Prevents Zombie Goals
The Product Goal Bridges Strategy and Execution
The Product Goal Sets Strategic Focus; the Sprint Goal Sets Tactical Focus
Product Goals and Sprint Goals Serve Different Time Horizons
Sprint Goals Steer Sprints Toward the Product Goal
A Product Goal bridges the gap between vision and execution
A Product Vision Inspires A Product Goal Delivers
Accountability for the Product Goal Falls to the Product Owner
A Product Goal Channels Value Toward Meaningful Outcomes
The Product Goal is a Compass Not a Contract
The Product Goal Shapes the Product Backlog
Ready Means a Work Item Can Be Started or Planned Confidently
The Entire Product Backlog Is Never Fully Ready
The Definition of Ready Is Not Part of Scrum
Overly Strict DoR Can Delay Valuable Work
Readiness Results From Effective Backlog Refinement
Scrum Is Intentionally Incomplete
Delivery Mode - Project Thinking’s Not-So-Flattering Alias
Product-Focused Reviews Prevent Wasted Effort
Product-Focused Reviews Examine Impact and Evidence
Sprint Reviews Guide Strategic Adjustments
Architecture Feedback in Sprint Reviews Improve Technical Alignment
Scrum Masters Facilitate Product-Focused Sprint Reviews
Product-Centric Reviews Align Work to Strategy and Customer Value