A bloated backlog is not a sign of good product management

A cluttered backlog signals poor product management, causing confusion and lost focus. Keep backlogs lean to highlight priorities and drive valuable, actionable work.

Published on 10 April 2025

Written by Martin Hinshelwood

1 minute read

https://nkdagility.com/resources/gcu0w2Xq7sm

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?

Also published on: LinkedIn

Related blog (Extended)

Connect with Martin Hinshelwood

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.

Our Happy Clients

We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.