Practical Scaled Agile (CIPSA) Certification: CIPSA Kanban Backlog – What It Is and What It Is Not!

 

Both the Product Backlog and the CIPSA Kanban Backlog are key artifacts in the CIPSA Kanban Framework. However, from an execution point of view, the real action happens in the CIPSA Kanban Backlog, because it is the CIPSA Kanban Backlog that is executed by the CIPSA Kanban Team.

Product backlog items taken from the Product Backlog are executed by individual Kanban Teams, resulting in a CIPSA Integrated Increment at the end of the release. The following differentiations clearly define the characteristics of the CIPSA Kanban Backlog. 

The content of this article is based on the CIPSA Kanban Framework. See here. 

Exhaustive explanation is part of the CIPSA certification course. See here. CIPSA is world's only Practical Scaled-Agile certification. It supports both Scrum and Kanban.

To read all articles of this series use this link: 
What It's and What It's Not series for CIPSA

CIPSA Kanban Backlog – What It’s and What It’s Not

Among many, the following are some of the top ones:

1. Not Ongoing, but Release-Bound: The CIPSA Kanban Backlog is not a continuous artifact. The CIPSA Kanban Backlog is discarded when the Release ends.

The CIPSA Kanban Backlog is not kept for indefinitely and is not ongoing is nature. When one release is over, it’s discarded and another is taken-up. 

2. Not a Superset, but a Subset: The sum of all CIPSA Kanban Backlogs across Releases is not equal to the Product Backlog. The CIPSA Kanban Backlog is a smaller, Release-specific subset.

There will be multiple releases while using the CIPSA Kanban Backlog. The sum of all CIPSA Kanban Backlog across releases doesn’t equal to the Product Backlog. It’ll always remain a subset of the Product Backlog. See here to learn more.

3. Not Just Tasks, but also Meta-Events: The CIPSA Kanban Backlog does not only hold work items. The CIPSA Kanban Backlog also includes CIPSA Meta-Events.

Other than the work items, the meta-events included in the CIPSA Kanban Backlog can be CIPSA Kanban Planning, CIPSA Daily Stand-ups, CIPSA Kanban Review, and CIPSA Kanban Retrospective.

4. Not Self-Directed, but Facilitated: The CIPSA Kanban Backlog is not managed without guidance. The CIPSA Kanban Backlog is facilitated by the Principal Flow Master (PFM).  

While the CIPSA Kanban Team owns the CIPSA Kanban Backlog and the team-members execute the tasks (from the individual Team Backlog), it’s not without guidance. The PFM provides the necessary guidance. See the PFM video here. 

5. Not Isolated, but Dependency-Aware: The CIPSA Kanban Backlog does not ignore inter-team needs. The CIPSA Kanban Backlog allows inter-team dependencies to be noted and tracked.

The inter-team dependencies, i.e., the dependencies across the individual Kanban Teams are noted in the CIPSA Kanban Backlog. With right software tool(s), it’s highly useful. 

CIPSA Kanban Backlog – Summary Table

The summary table is shown below.

Final Words

I believe the above differentiations will bring a lot of clarity regarding the CIPSA Kanban Backlog. Detailed explanations will be part of the CIPSA certification course.

Want to experience it hands-on? Become a CIPSA. It’s world’s only Practical Scaled Agile certification.

Among many things, you’ll learn:

• How to build the CIPSA Kanban Backlog?
• How to associate with single- or multi-Releases?
• How to go with both CIPSA Kanban Backlog and Team Kanban Backlogs?
• What are the various ways to assign resources at Scale?
• When, why and how to schedule CIPSA Kanban Backlog related events?

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CIPSA – What It's and What It's Not Series:

All Articles in What It's and What It's Not - CIPSA

CIPSA Sample Videos and Questions:

[1] CIPSA Sample Video List (Choose a Video)

[2] CIPSA Video Playlist (Complete Playlist)

CIPSA Sample Questions:

[1] CIPSA Certification Sample Questions (Part - 1)

[2] CIPSA Certification Sample Questions (Part - 2)

CIPSA Certification:

[1] NEW Scaled Agile Certification Course: Certified In Practical Scaled Agile (CIPSA)

[2] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - CIPSA Certification  

[3] New Practical Scaled Agile Framework – The CIPSA Framework Guide

[4] A Close Look at the CIPSA Kanban Framework – Practical, Hands-on Kanban at Scale

[5] The CIPSA Framework Clock - A Unique Way

Practical Scaled Agile (CIPSA) Certification: CIPSA Sprint Backlog – What It Is and What It Is Not!

While both the Product Backlog and the CIPSA Sprint Backlog are key artifacts in the CIPSA Scrum Framework, the real action happens with the CIPSA Sprint Backlog. It’s the CIPSA Sprint Backlog which gets executed by the CIPSA Team.

The product backlog items taken from the Product Backlog are executed by individual Scrum Teams and a CIPSA Integrated Increment is given at the end of the Sprint. The below differentiations clearly inform the characteristics of the CIPSA Sprint Backlog. 

The content of this article uses the CIPSA Scrum Framework. Similar ones will be applicable to the CIPSA Kanban Framework. 

To read all articles of this series use this link: What It's and What It's Not series for CIPSA. 

CIPSA Sprint Backlog – What It’s and What It’s Not

Among many, I've outlined the following ones for your understanding. Exhaustive explanation is part of the CIPSA certification course. See here.

1 Not Tasks, But Value: The CIPSA Sprint Backlog is not just a list of tasks or line items. The CIPSA Sprint Backlog can contain features, user stories and tasks. 

The CIPSA Sprint Backlog goes beyond a simple task list and focuses on delivering customer and business value. It includes features, user stories, and tasks to ensure a value-driven approach to sprint planning and execution. 

Remember the execution of this backlog finally leads to the CIPSA Integrated Increment. See here.

2. Not CPO-Owned, But Team-Owned: The CIPSA Sprint Backlog is not managed by the Chief Product Owner. The CIPSA Sprint Backlog is managed by the CIPSA team. See here.

Unlike the Product Backlog, the CIPSA Spring Backlog is managed and owned by the CIPSA team. In other words, it’s a collaborative one by the individual Scrum teams. The oversight is provided by the Principal Scrum Master (PSM). See here.  

3. Not Static, But Evolving: The CIPSA Sprint Backlog is not static or fixed. The CIPSA Sprint Backlog can evolve during the Sprint. 

The CIPSA Sprint Backlog is dynamic and can adapt as the Sprint progresses. It allows flexibility to respond to change and emerging tasks or insights. Sometimes, it's highly possible that new tasks can come-up.

4. Not Performance, But Progress: The CIPSA Sprint Backlog is not about measuring the individual team performance. The CIPSA Sprint Backlog is for checking the progress towards the CIPSA Sprint Goal.

The CIPSA Sprint Backlog is used to track progress toward the CIPSA Sprint Goal, not to evaluate individual Scrum Team performance. The focus is on collective delivery, not on individual Team metrics.

5. Not Kept, But Discarded: The CIPSA Sprint Backlog is not going to be retained throughout the project. The CIPSA Sprint Backlog will be discarded at the end of the Sprint.

The CIPSA Sprint Backlog is a temporary one and it's discarded at the end of the Sprint. Its value lies in guiding current work and finally delivering the Integrated Increment.

6. Not Backlog-Led, But Goal-Led: The CIPSA Backlog items do not drive the CIPSA Sprint Goal. The CIPSA Sprint Goal drives the work items in the CIPSA Sprint Backlog.

The CIPSA Sprint Backlog is shaped by the CIPSA Sprint Goal, not the other way around. The CIPSA Sprint Goal is in alignment with the Product Goal (see here). Work items are selected and executed to achieve the CIPSA Sprint Goal, ensuring purpose-driven progress.

Did you properly read the last (previous) one? 

It’s an important one to note. The Product Goal drives “what” will constitute the Product Backlog. Similarly, the CIPSA Sprint Goal drives “what” will constitute the CIPSA Sprint Backlog. The meta-events are added to finalize the backlog.

CIPSA Sprint Backlog – Summary Table

The summary table of what we have learned so far is shown below.

Final Words

I believe the above differentiations will bring a lot of clarity regarding the CIPSA Sprint Backlog. Remember, this is where the real action happens!

Recently, a successful CIPSA informed hands-on learning with .mpp solution files has been invaluable. You can read the CIPSA Success Story.

Want to experience it hands-on? Become a CIPSA practitioner – part of the world’s only practical scaled agile framework.

Among many things, you’ll learn (hands-on):

• How to build the CIPSA Sprint Backlog?
• How to break down backlog items in a proper way?
• How to estimate the items in the CIPSA Sprint Backlog?
• What are the various ways to assign resources?
• When to schedule CIPSA Sprint Backlog related events?
• When and where to include CIPSA meta-events?

CIPSA – What It's and What It's Not Series:

All Articles in What It's and What It's Not - CIPSA

CIPSA Sample Videos:

[1] CIPSA Sample Video List (Choose a Video)

[2] CIPSA Video Playlist (Complete Playlist)

CIPSA Sample Questions:

[1] CIPSA Certification Sample Questions (Part - 1)

[2] CIPSA Certification Sample Questions (Part - 2)

CIPSA Certification:

[1] NEW Scaled Agile Certification Course: Certified In Practical Scaled Agile (CIPSA)

[2] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - CIPSA Certification  

[3] New Practical Scaled Agile Framework – The CIPSA Framework Guide

[4] Understanding the CIPSA Scrum Framework – Practical, Hands-on Scrum at Scale

[5] The CIPSA Framework Clock - A Unique Way

Unleash Your Agile Spirit For Scaling – Be a CIPSA

ManagementYogi's Certified In Practical Scaled Agile (CIPSA) course embodies a dynamic and transformative spirit, captured vividly in the latest trailer (26 seconds). CIPSA is pronounced as 'sip-sa'.

Top 10 Reasons to Go for CIPSA Certification

The course is hands-on and deeply practical. It's also highly economical. It allows learners to master Scaled Scrum and Scaled Kanban in a hands-on manner with the needed theory.

The below table shows a brief comparison between CIPSA and other certification. Rating is given for each category based on inputs from CIPSAs. The star rating given is based on a scale where five stars represent the highest and one star, the lowest.

Check the items one-by-one to determine the value.

Whether you're navigating Scrum at Scale or Kanban at Scale, CIPSA equips you to rise above conventional limitations and embrace a new Scaled Agile excellence. It's unique in its approach. 

CIPSA not just a certification – it’s a movement to have real-world learning and applicability, which seriously lacks in every other Scaled Agile certification. Rest of the scaled agile certifications are not at all practical, but only theory and more theory. 

To really learn Agile scaling, consider becoming a CIPSA. It’s worth your money. 

Watch the value of being a CIPSA here. 

To know more about the CIPSA certification course, see here.

For this course, many FAQs have been answered. See here. 

If you have any questions or clarifications, please send an email to managementyogi@gmail.com.

CIPSA Certification Course

• Certified In Practical Scaled Agile (CIPSA) – Practical and Economical

CIPSA Sample Videos

• CIPSA Sample Video List (Choose a Video)
• CIPSA Video Playlist (Complete Playlist)

CIPSA – What It's and What It's Not Series:

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