The Secret Life of B’s (Backlogs)

Pop quiz!

Is the primary purpose of a product backlog to:

• Collect product backlog items
• Visualise all the work needed to deliver a product
• Order work and improve focus

Chances are you know a lot about product backlogs. You’ve probably heard about Product Backlog Items, INVEST criteria, user stories, and 3 C’s to name a few.

Of course, clear product backlog items are critical to a team’s success.

Often we overlook the ultimate purpose of a backlog: prioritisation and focus.

Despite the science on the costs of multitasking, there is a constant temptation to work in parallel. (When was the last time you watched TV without looking at your phone?)

Multitasking has been shown to decrease quality, create a chronic distraction, and procrastination. 50+ years of scientific research have shown you do less and miss information when you’re multitasking. Up to 40% less!

Your product backlog is a tool to help you fight the urge to work in parallel and multitask!

A queue of work in Kanban, if prioritised, works in a similar way.

Backlog checklist

Here’s a quick checklist to assess if you’re getting the most out of your product backlog:

• Product Backlog Items (PBIs) are clearly ordered in a single list
• The top priority PBIs value is clearly understood
• The team is working on the highest value items
• Work in progress is limited
• PBIs are done by the end of the sprint

If you want to gain up to 40% efficiency improvements - start with Product Backlog ordering. See how your team’s focus increases and enjoy the results.

Want a refresher on the Product Owner role or start a career? We invite you to join our accredited course - Professional Scrum Product Owner Training.