AgileWoW - Agile Ways of Working

Slicing & Splitting Product Backlog Items

No time to read? Sit back and enjoy the audio version of this post.

Conquering Big, Fuzzy PBIs for Better Agile Progress

If you've ever stared at a Product Backlog Item (PBI) that feels too big or too fuzzy and thought, "Where do I even start?", you're not alone.

In Scrum, your Product Backlog is like a living artifact, and if the items in it are too chunky, vague, or oversized, the team struggles to make progress. That's where **decomposition** comes in.

Let's break this down — simply and clearly.

What Does it Mean to "Decompose" a PBI?

Decomposition means breaking down a big Product Backlog Item into smaller, more manageable pieces that can be completed within a Sprint. It's like taking a large Lego structure and breaking it into smaller, buildable sections.

The goal?

Better clarity
Smarter planning
Faster feedback
More predictability

Two Common Techniques: Splitting vs. Slicing

Many people use these terms interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same. Here's how we explain it in our PSPBMS class:

SPLITTING — "Breaking into smaller parts"

Think of splitting as dividing a large item into smaller chunks that still make sense on their own.
It's like splitting a pizza into slices — each slice is complete and edible on its own.
Ideal for big epics, user stories, or features.

Example:

Big PBI: "Create user profile functionality"

You can split it into:

"Allow users to create a profile"
"Allow users to upload a profile picture"
"Enable users to edit profile information"

These are separate functionalities, but together they complete the feature.

SLICING — "Cutting vertically through value"

Slicing focuses on delivering a thin slice of end-to-end value, even if it’s not feature-complete.
It's like cutting a layered cake vertically — you get a bit of everything: frosting, filling, sponge — in one slice.

Example:

Same big PBI: "Create user profile functionality"

Instead of breaking it by tasks or modules, slice by user journey or use case:

"Guest can create basic profile with name and email"
"Registered user can create full profile with photo & bio"
"Mobile user can create profile via app"

Each slice is usable, testable, and delivers value, even if it’s not the entire feature.

The Real Difference

Aspect	Splitting	Slicing
Focus	Divide by functionality	Divide by value flow
Outcome	Smaller implementation parts	Thin end-to-end stories
Good for	Large Epics, Features	Early MVP, Incremental Delivery

When to Use Which?

Use splitting when:

The item is too big or complex to finish in one Sprint
You can clearly separate the pieces of functionality

Use slicing when:

You want fast feedback on real user value
You're building incrementally and iteratively
You're dealing with high uncertainty or innovation

In our AgileWoW PSPBMS workshop, you'll practice both techniques with real-world examples and AI assistance.

Real-Life Scenarios We Explore in the PSPBMS Class

How to split PBIs using CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete)
How to slice stories using user personas and workflows
Using the "Hamburger" approach
AI tools (like ChatGPT) to help suggest vertical slices or refinement questions
Exercises to move from epic → feature → PBI → Sprint-ready item

Tips to Decompose Better

Always retain customer value — no one wants to demo half a button.
Use acceptance criteria to test if the smaller item still makes sense.
Collaborate with developers and testers when slicing — their insights are gold.
Use "INVEST"(Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, Testable) as a litmus test.
Don’t just split by frontend/backend — it rarely delivers end-to-end value.