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   scribe (scribe@mastodon.sdf.org)'s status on Thursday, 12-Sep-2024 18:31:41 JST scribe

   The term "grooming" popped up in a LinkedIn-backed question today. We always felt uncomfortable using this word when we talked about "backlog grooming" previously as well, so I guess I'm surprised to see it. Does it not have the same connotation in the US as it does in the UK?

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     scribe (scribe@mastodon.sdf.org)'s status on Thursday, 12-Sep-2024 18:55:48 JST scribe

     in reply to

     • Mark Kennedy

     @mrmonkington Just "tidying" I think. There's a dual use to the word though, somewhere between neatening and preparation, but it was never important or unclear enough to get something more formal hashed out.

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     Mark Kennedy (mrmonkington@hostux.social)'s status on Thursday, 12-Sep-2024 18:55:50 JST Mark Kennedy

     in reply to

     @scribe i think it has the same negative use in the US. I gotta be honest I use the term "backlog grooming" a lot - what term did your team settle on as an easily understood replacement?

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     scribe (scribe@mastodon.sdf.org)'s status on Thursday, 12-Sep-2024 21:29:55 JST scribe

     in reply to

     • Mark Kennedy

     @mrmonkington Also works, depending on context. I think they key thing, as with all terms, is whether anyone else needs to "get" what a term means or not - backlog refinement is often a solitary activity ;)

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     Mark Kennedy (mrmonkington@hostux.social)'s status on Thursday, 12-Sep-2024 21:29:57 JST Mark Kennedy

     in reply to

     @scribe I might just use "triage" more broadly since I tend to do all these types of things at the same time (i.e. make vague things actionable)

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     scribe (scribe@mastodon.sdf.org)'s status on Friday, 13-Sep-2024 18:45:25 JST scribe

     in reply to

     • Mark Kennedy

     @mrmonkington Oh god yes, you should definitely just make up your own term. "Today I'll be shoovering the backqueue."

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     Mark Kennedy (mrmonkington@hostux.social)'s status on Friday, 13-Sep-2024 18:45:26 JST Mark Kennedy

     in reply to

     @scribe well yes. Although sometimes I have to tell somebody who doesn't work in software what I'm up to and then all the terms I have mean something else in their domain.

     We should call it "spintonaxing the fladstack" or something equally unique and unambiguous. Open to better suggestions :⁠-⁠)