Product vs Sprint Backlog - Main Differences Explained with Relationship

Product backlog covers the entire product lifecycle, sprint backlog is just for one sprint. There is also more to the sprint vs product backlog debate. Today, we uncover them, and help you in your journey in the vast world of product management. 

The sprint backlog has tasks of immediate priority from the product backlog that must be completed in the sprint. The product backlog is a broader roadmap containing all the features required to complete product lifecycle. The main differences between product and sprint backlog extend to scope, vision, purpose, and ownership. See how they differ below. 

Key Comparisons - Product vs Sprint Backlog

These are some of the core parameters to help you quickly grasp the product vs sprint backlog debate. 

Product vs Sprint Backlog - Overview & Purpose in Agile 

Both product and sprint backlogs serve different purposes. 

Overview of Product Backlog

A product is always continuously improved. The features keep getting added with enhancements that clients request, and then there are bug fixes. 

The Product Owner manages this backlog and shares it with stakeholders to align them to the plan and ensure the team delivers maximum value. 

Check on the Product Owner Fundamentals - IIBA Endorsed course on Udemy if you are really interested in pursuing the Product Owner role. 

Purpose of the Product Backlog

• Serves as input for release planning
• Helps prioritise work according to business value
• Enables continuous improvement and adaptation to changing customer needs
• Facilitates collaboration among stakeholders

Overview of Sprint Backlog

A sprint backlog is only for a sprint. It is a subset of the product backlog. Unlike the responsibility of the Product Owner, the sprint backlog is owned by the development team. In sprints, there are clear objectives as defined by the so-called Sprint Goals. The backlog, in this case, is meeting these goals. 

Purpose of Sprint Backlog

• Guides the team through daily activities within a single Sprint.
• Provides a clear understanding of the work required to achieve the Sprint Goal
• Encourages self-organisation and empowers the development team
• Supports transparency and accountability in delivering working software

Specifics in Product versus Sprint Backlog

In Agile projects, the product and sprint backlogs are quite distinct. The nature of specificity determines how the Product Owner or development team plan and execute the work. 

Sprint backlogs are not so flexible when compared to the product backlog. 

Product Backlog

• High-level: Think of these items as broad strokes on a canvas, outlining general features, improvements, or bug fixes. For example, "Implement user login functionality" or "Enhance search function for better usability."
• Dynamic and Evolving: These items are not set in stone. They can be added, removed, or refined based on changing market needs, customer feedback, or internal discoveries. The Product Owner constantly assesses and prioritises based on strategic value.
• Estimates, not Commitments: While estimations may be attached to product backlog items, they are not firm commitments. The focus is on understanding the value and general scope, not locking into specific details at this stage.

Sprint Backlog

• Detailed and Actionable: The high-level product backlog items are converted into actionable tasks and user stories in a sprint backlog. Think "Develop a login form with username and password fields" or "Implement a search algorithm using keyword stemming."
• Committed to the Sprint: Once selected during the sprint planning meeting, the Development Team commits to completing these items within the defined sprint timeframe. 
• Clear Acceptance Criteria: Each sprint backlog item has well-defined acceptance criteria. Everyone has to understand what "done" looks like without any ambiguity.

Product Backlog and Sprint Backlog Difference in Time Horizon

See how product backlog is for the long term while the sprint backlog is not. 

Product Backlog

The overall vision of the project exists in the product backlog. So it’s a long term view. It takes into account that there will be iterations across multiple phases. Then it is also about market viability, as trends shift quickly. The Product Owner needs to continuously revisit assumptions and adjust the backlog based on the latest learnings around customer demand and competitive forces. 

Sprint Backlog

The timeline is specific and should not cover the entirety of the product, in the sprint backlog. The plan is for the short term, and the tasks must be immediately fulfilled. 

Relationship Between Product and Sprint Backlog

The product and sprint backlogs do not work in isolation. They are common across the following aspects. 

• Strategic Alignment: The product backlog is the guiding star, ensuring sprint goals contribute to the overall product vision. Each sprint tackles a piece of the larger puzzle, driven by priorities within the product backlog.
• Feeding the Sprint: Items flow from the product backlog to the sprint backlog through a process of selection and refinement. During sprint planning, the development team, in collaboration with the Product Owner, chooses items based on feasibility, value, and sprint goals.
• Continuous Flow: This isn't a one-time transfer. The product backlog remains dynamic, responding to new information and evolving priorities. As sprints progress, the remaining product backlog adapts, feeding future sprints with updated or newly discovered points of interest.