Backlog grooming sessions are held during which phase?

• A. Build phase
• B. Deploy phase
• C. Testing phase
• D. Design phase

Answer: (A)

Backlog grooming is the ongoing process of clarifying, prioritizing, and detailing items in the product backlog so the team has well-defined work to pull into upcoming iterations. Typically, these grooming sessions occur during the Build phase, when development work is being planned and executed. In these sessions, the product owner and stakeholders refine stories, break them into manageable pieces, add acceptance criteria, and adjust priorities so upcoming work is ready for sprint planning and execution. This readiness helps avoid vague requirements and keeps the team moving smoothly as they build features.

Deploy, Testing, and Design serve different purposes—releasing software, validating quality, and upfront planning—so while refinements may touch on any phase, the grooming activity most aligned with preparing concrete work for the build is the Build phase.