How should items in the product backlog be sorted?

Sorting items in the product backlog based on descending priority is essential for effective project management, particularly in agile frameworks like Scrum. The product backlog represents the list of work that needs to be completed, and prioritizing it ensures that the most important tasks are tackled first. High-priority items typically align with business needs or critical user requirements, allowing the development team to focus on delivering maximum value to stakeholders.

This method of organization enables teams to respond rapidly to changes or new information since they are consistently addressing the most valuable features. By focusing on high-priority tasks, teams can also better manage their workload and resources, ensuring efficiency and optimizing the development process. This approach supports continuous delivery and iterative development, aligning with agile principles and enabling a more adaptive response to changing project dynamics.

In contrast, sorting by name, creation date, or randomly would not provide a clear framework for addressing customer needs or project objectives. These methods could lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities to deliver value early and often. Hence, prioritization is a critical aspect of backlog management, emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing stakeholder needs effectively.