A Great Backlog Is More Than Task Lists
Learn how an effective backlog guides product strategy, prioritises value, and supports decision-making, rather than serving as a simple list of tasks …
A cluttered backlog signals poor product management, causing confusion and lost focus. Keep backlogs lean to highlight priorities and drive valuable, actionable work.
A bloated backlog is not a sign of good product management. It’s a sign of indecision.
If your backlog reads like an archive of every idea that’s ever been considered, you’re setting your team up for failure. The backlog is not a dumping ground for every possibility—it’s a lean inventory of unrealised value.
A cluttered backlog creates noise. It obscures priorities, confuses stakeholders, and forces teams to wade through irrelevance. The best backlogs? They are sharp, clear, and reflect only the next most valuable work.
If your backlog has more items than your team could complete in a year, it’s time to clean house.
What’s stopping you?
Each classification [Concepts, Categories, & Tags] was assigned using AI-powered semantic analysis and scored across relevance, depth, and alignment. Final decisions? Still human. Always traceable. Hover to see how it applies.
If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.
We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.
Healthgrades
YearUp.org
Lean SA
Illumina
Slaughter and May
Lockheed Martin
Schlumberger
MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd.
Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd
New Signature
Trayport
NIT A/S
SuperControl
Philips
Hubtel Ghana
Brandes Investment Partners L.P.
Boeing
Cognizant Microsoft Business Group (MBG)
Washington Department of Transport
Royal Air Force
New Hampshire Supreme Court
Department of Work and Pensions (UK)
Nottingham County Council
Washington Department of Enterprise Services
Alignment Healthcare
Kongsberg Maritime
ALS Life Sciences
Healthgrades
Trayport
Epic Games