When learning or practicing Scrum, one of the key concepts you must understand is Scrum artifacts. These artifacts act as important tools that provide transparency, guide planning, and show progress. Whether you are an aspiring scrum master preparing for the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) exam or a professional working with a scrum team, knowing Scrum artifacts is essential.
Here you will explore the three main Scrum artifacts like Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment in simple words with practical examples. Also look at how to explain these to your team so that they understand their role in delivering value. If you are preparing for a career in Agile or Scrum, enrolling in one of the top training institutes in India like HelloSM can help you master these concepts with real-world examples.
Understanding the Scrum Team First
Before diving into Scrum artifacts, let’s quickly revisit what makes up a Scrum Team. A typical Scrum Team has three roles:
- Product Owner – Responsible for defining and prioritizing the work.
- Developers – The professionals who build the product.
- Scrum Master – A coach and guide ensuring the team follows Scrum principles.
Think of a soccer team as an analogy:
- The Product Owner is like the captain, setting direction.
- The Developers are the players, scoring goals.
- The Scrum Master is the coach, guiding and improving the team’s performance.
What Are Scrum Artifacts?
According to the Scrum Guide, “Scrum artifacts represent work or value.” These artifacts maximize transparency and ensure that everyone has the same information to inspect and adapt. Scrum defines three key artifacts:
- Sprint Backlog
- Product Backlog
- Increment
Each artifact also has a commitment attached to it, ensuring focus and measurable progress.
Sprint Backlog
The Sprint Backlog is a list of items selected from the Product Backlog that the team commits to completing in one Sprint (a time-box of up to one month). It contains selected backlog items. A Sprint Goal. A plan to deliver those items. Who creates it? The Scrum Team during Sprint Planning. Commitment: The Sprint Goal. For example in soccer, a Sprint Backlog could mean focusing on specific goals within a time frame, for instance, improving defense in one week, or achieving three wins in a month. In software, the Sprint Backlog may include creating a login page, fixing a bug, or improving the search feature during a Sprint.
Product Backlog
The Product Backlog is an ordered list of everything needed in the product. It contains items called Product Backlog Items (PBIs), which could be features, improvements, bug fixes, or research tasks. Who manages it? The Product Owner is responsible for maintaining the Product Backlog. Who uses it? The Developers use it to plan and deliver work. Commitment: The Product Goal.
For example, in soccer, the Product Backlog is like the plan to win the FIFA World Cup. It includes strategies, training routines, diet plans, and smaller milestones that lead toward the ultimate goal, winning the tournament. In a software project, it could include building new features, improving speed, or enhancing security. Product Backlog Refinement is the process where the team breaks down large items into smaller, manageable ones. Just like refining soccer strategies before a big match, refinement helps the team prepare better.
Increment
The Increment is the usable, working output delivered at the end of a Sprint. An Increment is only valid if it meets the Definition of Done (DoD). Who delivers it? Developers create the Increment. Commitment: The Definition of Done. For example in soccer, an Increment could be winning a league match. It is progress toward the larger goal (winning the championship). However, if the team wins but violates the rules, it doesn’t count, just like work in Scrum that doesn’t meet DoD isn’t considered complete. In software, an Increment might be a new feature, like a payment gateway. If it works but doesn’t meet coding standards or testing requirements, it is not a valid Increment.
Scrum artifacts are not just documents or lists; they are tools for alignment and transparency. They ensure that everyone knows what the team is working on. Progress is visible to stakeholders. Teams have clear goals to work toward. By mastering artifacts, Scrum Teams can stay focused, improve collaboration, and deliver value consistently.
If you want to dive deeper into these concepts and gain hands-on knowledge, HelloSM, the best Scrum training institute in Hyderabad, provides practical training with real-world examples to help you succeed in your Scrum career.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Scrum artifacts in simple words?
Scrum artifacts are tools like lists or deliverables that show what work is planned, what is in progress, and what has been delivered.
Who is responsible for the Product Backlog?
The Product Owner manages the Product Backlog, but Developers refine and plan work from it.
What is the commitment for the Product Backlog?
The commitment is the Product Goal, which gives direction to the backlog items.
How is the Sprint Backlog different from the Product Backlog?
The Product Backlog is a long-term list of everything the product needs, while the Sprint Backlog is a short-term plan for one Sprint.
What is the Definition of Done (DoD)?
The DoD is a checklist that ensures work is complete and ready to be delivered. Without meeting DoD, the Increment isn’t valid.
Why should I learn Scrum artifacts from a training institute?
Learning from experts at the best Scrum training institute in Hyderabad like HelloSM helps you connect theory with practice, preparing you for real-world challenges and certification exams.