When are adjustments made to the initial sequencing of stories?

Adjustments to the initial sequencing of stories are typically made at iteration boundaries. This is an important time in the Agile process, as it allows teams to reflect on their progress, reassess priorities, and make necessary adjustments based on feedback from the previous iteration.

At the end of each iteration, teams hold retrospective meetings where they evaluate what worked well and what didn’t. This reflection helps in understanding if the backlog needs to be updated, whether certain stories should be prioritized over others, or if there are new insights that should alter the sequence of tasks. Doing this at iteration boundaries provides a structured approach to continuously improve and align the work with the current goals, risks, and market conditions.

The other contexts, such as during the Product Owner (PO) Sync or team sync, are more about communications and alignment rather than formally adjusting the sequencing of stories. The midpoint of the Program Increment (PI) is also a time for evaluation and adjustment, but it does not serve as the primary point for modifying story sequences; this is better accomplished at the end of iterations, aligning with the Agile principles of adaptability and responsiveness.