In Scrum, what represents the work to be done?

In Scrum, the work to be done is represented by the Product Backlog. This is a prioritized list of everything that might be needed in the product and is the single source of truth for what the team will work on. The Product Backlog contains features, enhancements, bug fixes, and technical work, as well as knowledge acquisition activities needed to fulfill the product vision.

The items in the Product Backlog are continuously refined and prioritized to provide clear guidance to the team on what to focus on next. It is important because it allows the Product Owner to manage stakeholder expectations and ensures that the team is working on the most valuable items first, aligning with customer needs and market demands.

In contrast, the Sprint Backlog is a subset of the Product Backlog that captures the work the team aims to complete in a specific Sprint, while the Increment refers to the culmination of all completed Product Backlog items at the end of a Sprint. The Definition of Done is a shared understanding of what it means for work to be complete. Each of these plays a role in the Scrum framework, but when it comes to what represents the overall work to be done for the product, the Product Backlog is the key artifact.