Experimentation Brain Creative Variation Backlog Framework


Document Type: Framework
Status: Active
Authority: HeadOffice
Applies To: Experimentation Brain, Ads Brain, Conversion Brain, Affiliate Brain, Content Brain, Data Brain, AIBS Brain
Parent: Experimentation Brain Canon
Version: v1.0
Last Reviewed: 2026-05-03


Purpose

The Creative Variation Backlog Framework defines how MWMS captures, structures, prioritises, and manages all testing ideas, campaigns, experiences, and variations.

Testing without a backlog leads to:

  • random testing
  • repeated ideas
  • lost learnings
  • poor prioritisation
  • inconsistent execution

This framework ensures all testing is:

  • organised
  • traceable
  • prioritised
  • actionable

Scope

This framework applies to:

  • A/B testing campaigns
  • personalization experiments
  • ad creative testing
  • funnel testing
  • landing page experiments
  • ecommerce testing
  • affiliate offer testing

It governs:

  • idea capture
  • variation tracking
  • campaign structure
  • testing workflow
  • prioritisation

Definition

Creative Variation Backlog

A structured system that stores:

  • all test ideas
  • all campaigns
  • all experiences
  • all variations
  • all hypotheses
  • all results

Core Principle

If a test is not captured in the backlog, it does not exist.


Backlog Structure


1. Campaign Level

Represents the objective of testing


Fields

  • Campaign Name
  • Objective
  • Optimization Target
  • Funnel Stage
  • Owner
  • Status

2. Experience Level

Represents different approaches to solving the objective


Fields

  • Experience Name
  • Description
  • Segment (if applicable)
  • Personalization Method (A/B / Rules / Predictive)

3. Variation Level

Represents specific changes being tested


Fields

  • Variation Name
  • Hypothesis
  • Change Description
  • Creative Asset
  • CTA / Message Change
  • Page/Location

Hypothesis Requirement

Every variation must include:

  • what is being changed
  • why it should improve performance
  • expected outcome

Rule

No hypothesis:

→ no test


Backlog Workflow


Step 1 — Idea Capture

Capture ideas from:

  • data insights
  • previous tests
  • customer behaviour
  • competitor analysis
  • team input

Step 2 — Structuring

Convert idea into:

  • campaign
  • experience
  • variation
  • hypothesis

Step 3 — Prioritisation

Rank based on:

  • impact potential
  • ease of implementation
  • traffic availability
  • strategic importance

Step 4 — Execution

  • build variation
  • launch test
  • assign traffic

Step 5 — Measurement

  • track results
  • validate performance

Step 6 — Learning

Record:

  • results
  • insights
  • conclusions

Step 7 — Iteration

  • refine idea
  • expand winners
  • create new variations

Status System

Each campaign must have a status:

  • Idea
  • Planned
  • In Build
  • Live
  • Completed
  • Scaled
  • Archived

Prioritisation Model


High Priority

  • strong data-backed ideas
  • high-impact funnel stages
  • high-traffic areas

Medium Priority

  • moderate impact ideas
  • supporting tests

Low Priority

  • speculative ideas
  • low traffic areas

Tracking Requirements

Each test must record:

  • start date
  • end date
  • traffic allocation
  • segments tested
  • results
  • winning variation

Learning Repository Rule

All results must be stored.


Required Output

  • what worked
  • what failed
  • why
  • what to test next

Rule

No recorded learning:

→ test is wasted


Cross Brain Integration

Experimentation Brain
→ owns backlog

Ads Brain
→ feeds creative ideas

Conversion Brain
→ feeds funnel improvements

Affiliate Brain
→ feeds offer variations

Content Brain
→ feeds messaging

Data Brain
→ feeds insights


Failure Modes Prevented

  • random testing
  • duplicated tests
  • lost ideas
  • poor prioritisation
  • lack of learning
  • disconnected experiments

Governance Role

This framework ensures:

  • structured testing execution
  • consistent workflow
  • visibility of all experiments
  • repeatable optimization

Relationship To Other MWMS Standards

  • Experimentation Brain Optimization Target Selection Framework
  • Experimentation Brain Personalization Testing Framework
  • Data Brain Measurement Integrity Framework
  • Conversion Brain Behaviour Trigger Framework

Drift Protection

The system must prevent:

  • running tests without backlog entry
  • missing hypothesis
  • untracked variations
  • lost results
  • repeated failed ideas

Architectural Intent

This framework ensures:

  • MWMS operates as a testing system
  • ideas compound over time
  • learnings are retained
  • execution becomes scalable

It transforms testing from:

→ random actions

into:

→ controlled system execution


Final Rule

If it is not in the backlog:

→ it must not be tested


Change Log

Version: v1.0
Date: 2026-05-03
Author: HeadOffice

Change:
Created Creative Variation Backlog Framework defining structured capture, prioritisation, execution, and learning system for all MWMS testing activities based on CXL experimentation workflow.


Change Impact Declaration

Pages Created:
Experimentation Brain Creative Variation Backlog Framework

Pages Updated:
None

Pages Deprecated:
None

Registries Requiring Update:
Experimentation Brain Page Registry

Canon Version Update Required:
No

Change Log Entry Required:
Yes


END MWMS EXPERIMENTATION BRAIN CREATIVE VARIATION BACKLOG FRAMEWORK v1.0