Backlog Refinement

An ongoing activity — not a one-time meeting — where the product owner and development team review and update backlog items to ensure they are well-understood, properly sized, and ready for upcoming sprints. During refinement, the team adds detail, estimates effort, and splits large epics into smaller user stories. A well-groomed backlog means sprint planning runs smoothly because stories are already defined and estimated. Most teams dedicate five to ten percent of their sprint capacity to refinement. Items that meet the definition of ready are considered candidates for the next sprint.