Forum Discussion
Backlog ordering vs Sprint ordering
Hello,
I’m using Azure Dev Ops and would like some help please.
When I look at the backlog and put it in a nice order, all my items are correct. But when I bring some items into a sprint and order them, my backlog order is then unordered.
Our backlog structure is like this:
- Epic A
- Feature A1
- PBI Hot
- PBI Medium
- PBI Cold
- Feature A2
- PBI Hop
- PBI Skip
- PBI Jump
- Feature A1
- Epic B
- Feature B1
- PBI Cat
- Spike Dog
- PBI Mouse
- Feature B2
- Spike Slide
- PBI Swing
- Feature B1
The problem happens when I have the PBIs and Spikes from both EpIcs in a sprint and I need to order them by priority.
How can I stop the ordering of a sprint from changing the order in my backlog please?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Garry
1 Reply
Try below:
- Use a Separate Sprint-Only View:
- When prioritizing within a sprint, avoid changing the backlog order directly. Instead, use the drag-and-drop feature within the sprint view. This lets you visually organize sprint tasks without affecting the backlog.
- Tagging for Sprint Prioritization:
- Use tags or custom fields to manage priority levels within the sprint without altering the backlog:
- Add a custom tag like "Sprint Priority: High" or "Sprint Priority: Medium."
- Filter and sort by this tag within the sprint view.
- Custom Queries for Backlogs and Sprints:
- Create distinct queries for backlog and sprint management.
- For the backlog, keep the original hierarchy intact (Epics → Features → PBIs/Spikes).
- For the sprint, generate a prioritized list using a custom column or field.
- Linked Work Items:
- Instead of moving the same PBIs/Spikes into the sprint, create "linked work items" that reference the backlog items. This allows you to manipulate sprint priorities independently while keeping the backlog untouched.
- Separate Boards for Sprint Management:
- Consider creating a dedicated Kanban or Taskboard for sprint management. This allows for independent prioritization without disrupting the backlog order.
