What is a sprint backlog?
Interviewers ask this question to determine if a Scrum Master candidate understands the difference between a product backlog and a sprint backlog. This is a general knowledge question and is used to eliminate candidates who have limited Scrum knowledge.
Avoid confusing the product backlog with the sprint backlog. Some teams use one large backlog and only refine items as they are pulled into a sprint. However, the two artifacts are technically different, and a Scrum Master should understand them.
The sprint backlog in Scrum represents a list of user stories that are forecasted to be completed by a team within a sprint and the work necessary to develop them. The sprint backlog contains the user stories, the tasks needed to complete them, task status, and notes about scope or testing. Many teams use a tool to assist them in visualizing and managing the stories, tasks, statuses, and how they are all related during a sprint.
