Backlog items are the activities a team has to accomplish. On Backlog/Current, new items are added by pressing the “+ Item” button existent on the Backlog. Items can be defined as: Normal, meaning it is something be worked on; Problem, i.e., a correction of past work; Epic, an item not yet detailed; or Technical, something the team need to work on to improve your deliveries that don’t translate directly to value a user can perceive, e.g., a process optimization.
To create new items in the Backlog using predefined templates, locate and click on the Clone Item button with the icon in the upper right corner of the page, immediately to the right of the “+ Item” button. Select the Template on which the created item will be based on, and confirm. Do not forget to change the name of the Item to specify whom it refers to.
You can accept an item at the same time you create it. If not, your new item will be placed on the Submitted list, for later appreciation and acceptance.
Besides the name and description fields, items have two other noteworthy information we describe below.
4.1.1 – Estimate
Estimate is a system of points awarded to Items by the team, in order to indicate the degree of difficulty to do it. A modified Fibonacci sequence is normally used as the score system, however, any scale can be used as the score system, including how many man hours will be necessary to complete the Item. In addition, this score system is used to calculate the velocity of the team, so that the proper set of Items is included in a specific Sprint.
Notice: Items can only be included in a Sprint if estimated. If not, and included in a Sprint, they will receive the default value defined on Team settings.
4.1.2 – Added Value
The added value is a notion that allows the system to measure the value created by an economic agent. It is the additional value that acquires goods and services as they are transformed during the productive process. In a company, the added value is the additional contribution of a resource, activity or process for the manufacturing of a product or presentation of a service (definition adapted from Wikipedia).
The added value in BeePlus is a value without a pre-defined scale, to be used by the Team, specially the Coordinator, to indicate how much an Item contributes for the work objective and consequently to the business. It is an optional info, so the team may disregard it. It is important to note that the Coordinator is responsible for maximizing team’s efficiency.
A scale like the one below may be used. Make sure the scale you use is not easily mixed up with the estimation from the Item.
- 000 – no added value;
- 100 – low added value;
- 500 – medium added value;
- 1000 – high added value.
4.1.3 – Tasks
An Activity can be divided in many tasks. Through the completion of the tasks the activity is completed. User can create tasks on the Tasks tab, by pressing the plus button. Or can create them when the activity is on the board, through specific buttons.