Many product development surprises stem from poor backlog management, not true unknowns. Regular refinement and reflection help teams anticipate and reduce unexpected issues.
Not all surprises in product development are true unknowns. Many are just the result of bad backlog management.
Teams often get blindsided by last-minute changes, unexpected dependencies, or hidden complexities. But here’s the reality: Most of these “surprises” could have been anticipated with better refinement.
Refinement isn’t just about breaking down work—it’s about building foresight. If your team is constantly caught off guard, your backlog isn’t doing its job.
If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.
We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.
Alignment Healthcare
NIT A/S
Workday
Boeing
Illumina
Kongsberg Maritime
YearUp.org
Slicedbread
Microsoft
Schlumberger
Graham & Brown
Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd
Philips
MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd.
Deliotte
SuperControl
Emerson Process Management
Milliman
New Hampshire Supreme Court
Nottingham County Council
Royal Air Force
Washington Department of Transport
Ghana Police Service
Washington Department of Enterprise Services
Lean SA
Microsoft
Slicedbread
New Signature
Qualco
Boeing