---
title: How does the effort required for refinement change over time?
description: "The effort required for [Product Backlog](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/a-scrum-artifact-that-consists-of-an-ordered-list-of-the-work-to-be-done-in-order-to-create-maintain-and-sustain-a-product-managed-by-the-product-owner/) [Refinement](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/refinement/) can vary widely and is not fixed by Scrum. In the early Sprints, the effort may be higher as the [Scrum Team](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/scrum-team/) works to detail the necessary work at a low level of…"
url: "https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/docs/how-does-the-effort-required-for-refinement-change-over-time/"
updated: "2024-12-19"
category: Additional Rules / Refinement
---

# How does the effort required for refinement change over time?

The effort required for [Product Backlog](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/a-scrum-artifact-that-consists-of-an-ordered-list-of-the-work-to-be-done-in-order-to-create-maintain-and-sustain-a-product-managed-by-the-product-owner/) [Refinement](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/refinement/) can vary widely and is not fixed by Scrum. In the early Sprints, the effort may be higher as the [Scrum Team](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/scrum-team/) works to detail the necessary work at a low level of detail. As the team progresses and gains a better understanding of the domain and the product, the effort needed for [Refinement](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/refinement/) typically decreases.

In later Sprints, the volume of new work entering the [Product Backlog](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/a-scrum-artifact-that-consists-of-an-ordered-list-of-the-work-to-be-done-in-order-to-create-maintain-and-sustain-a-product-managed-by-the-product-owner/) may also reduce, further decreasing the time needed for [Refinement](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/refinement/). This evolving effort reflects the team's growing familiarity with the [Project](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/project/) and their ability to work more efficiently over time.