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?
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.
Hubtel Ghana
Healthgrades
Brandes Investment Partners L.P.
Boeing
Lean SA
ProgramUtvikling
Higher Education Statistics Agency
Sage
Genus Breeding Ltd
Microsoft
Bistech
Jack Links
Schlumberger
Flowmaster (a Mentor Graphics Company)
Milliman
Slicedbread
Ericson
Deliotte
New Hampshire Supreme Court
Department of Work and Pensions (UK)
Ghana Police Service
Washington Department of Enterprise Services
Washington Department of Transport
Royal Air Force
Emerson Process Management
Slaughter and May
New Signature
Microsoft
Xceptor - Process and Data Automation
Deliotte
