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How do we handle change requests in Scrum?

Posted bySCRUMstudy® on October 12, 2022

Categories Agile Product Backlog Product Development Project Delivery Scrum Scrum Guide Sprint Backlog

How do we handle change requests in Scrum?

Any change that arises in either programs or portfolios may have a cascading effect on all dependent projects and their corresponding Sprints. Therefore, it is advisable to minimize changes at these higher levels. If a change is required and all business stakeholders are in agreement to make the change at these levels, the following should be kept in mind. 

At Portfolio Level

  1. It is not recommended to make changes in between two Portfolio Backlog Meetings.
  2. If the change is minor, the Portfolio Product Owner should secure approval from the relevant business stakeholders (e.g., sponsor, customer, and end user) and then add the requirements to the Prioritized Portfolio Backlog. Product Owners of the program and project will consider those requirements for inclusion in future Sprints.
  3. If the change is major, the portfolio efforts along with associated programs, projects, and Sprints need to stop, and a Portfolio Backlog Meeting should be conducted to determine next steps.
  4. Prioritized Portfolio Backlog Meetings (also referred to as Portfolio Backlog Meetings) should be conducted at four- to twelve-month intervals. The frequency and impact of changes to a portfolio largely determine the time duration between two Portfolio Backlog Meetings. If there are several changes expected in the portfolio, it is preferable to conduct Portfolio Backlog Meetings at more regular intervals (e.g., four to six months); but if there are fewer changes expected and if requirements are stable, the duration between two Portfolio Backlog Meetings could be increased (e.g., nine to twelve months).

At Program Level

  1. It is not recommended to make changes in between two Program Backlog Meetings.
  2. If the change is minor, the Program Product Owner should secure approval from the relevant business stakeholders (e.g., sponsor, customer, and end user) and the Portfolio Product Owner and then add the requirements to the Prioritized Program Backlog. Product Owners for the project will consider those requirements for inclusion in future Sprints.
  3. If the change is major, the program efforts along with associated projects and Sprints need to stop, and a Prioritized Product Backlog Meeting should be conducted to determine next steps.
  4. Prioritized Program Backlog Meetings (also referred to as Program Backlog Meetings) should preferably be conducted at two- to six-month intervals. The frequency and impact of changes to a program largely determine the time duration between two Program Backlog Meetings. If there are several changes expected to arise in the program, it is preferable to conduct Program Backlog Meetings at more regular intervals (e.g., two to three months); but if there are fewer changes expected and if requirements are stable, the duration between two Program Backlog Meetings could be increased (e.g., five to six months).