A building-permits Product Owner writes 40-page specifications for each backlog item so inspectors will never have to ask questions. Developers still misread intent, and Sprint Planning stalls. What should the Product Owner do?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
A backlog item is a restaurant ticket, not a novel. The ticket gets the kitchen talking; a 40-page spec sits unread while the dish still comes out wrong. Short descriptions plus real conversations are how inspectors and Developers actually share intent.
Full Explanation
Product Backlog items invite upcoming conversation; they are not complete contracts of every permit rule. Novel-length documents delay learning, hide assumptions, and still fail when inspectors and Developers interpret language differently. The Product Owner is accountable for clarity of intent and order, which comes from ongoing refinement dialogue rather than transferring risk into unread specifications. Lightweight descriptions plus collaborative refinement produce a forecastable top of the backlog without waterfall mini-contracts.