8 Different Ways to Organize Your Backlog
Try out the best backlog organization practices!
Often we don’t question our product backlogs, they’re a list of stuff we hope, might and would like to do, but do they always have to be represented as a list?
The 8 Different Ways to Organize Your Backlog
1. User Story Map
Backlog as a User Story Map
User Story Maps are a great way to quickly build out your backlog for the first time, it’s also a powerful tool for release planning.
For more mature products I’ve often split my user story map by customer archetype, JTBD, objectives and even problem spaces, depending on what makes the most sense.
2. Idea Funnel Backlog
Idea Funnel Backlog feeding into a Kanban board
Literally a funnel! A great way to visualise your backlog and to actually physically restrict the number of product backlog items that are at the “top” (well “right”) of the backlog.
This form of backlog is great to help with prioritisation and focus whilst also keeping things fluid without too much overhead or formal structure.
3. Opportunity Backlog
Splitting your backlog into two — Opportunity backlog for discovery and Development for delivery.
All the ideas, problem spaces, and opportunities are thrown in here, if validated as a good idea they graduate to the delivery backlog.
And eventually the learning will lead to more opportunities and thus making its way back into the Opportunity backlog and that’s the circle of Product Development!
4. Classes of Work Backlog
Divide your backlog into multiple smaller backlogs based on different classes of work.
What often happens is that in order to keep track of everything product managers go labeling-crazy. When you think about it what they are actually doing is dividing their backlog into multiple smaller backlogs based on different classes of work.
One simple thing to do is to literally separate them. Most tools will allow you to achieve this using different views and filters whilst keeping the integrity of a single view for things like your sprints.
5. Tree Backlog
Tree backlogs are great for complex products with many different feature sets.
Technology Trees are great for complex products with many different types of features. Representing your backlog in this manner is a great way to visually show how different features inter-relate and how certain functionality can start out simple and incrementally be enhanced.
6. Impact Map Backlog
Impact maps are great for ideating many alternative paths towards a particular outcome.
Impact mapping works in a similar way to the Tree Backlog in the sense that it branches out. However, unlike the Tree each stage in the branch is not another backlog item rather it represents a stage in the impact map moving from the WHY > WHO > WHAT > HOW.
Representing your backlog this way is great for keeping everything outcome orientated. However impact mapping backlogs aren’t great at representing other classes of work such as technical debt, bug fixes, etc.
7. Circle Backlog
Circle backlogs are perfect for creating ‘slices’ to categorise your work whilst still maintaining a holistic view in one place.
There’s just something about breaking the mould — or perhaps it has to do with the lack of corners — that brings the creativity out in people.
You can even get creative and have different slice sizes, a great way to physically restrict WIP!And much like the Funnel Backlog they also can act as a roadmap + backlog in one.
8. Conversion Funnel Backlog
Conversion Funnel backlogs are great for early and growth stage products with clear conversions.
It brings two important pieces of information together, the quantitative data around drop-offs/potential pain-points in your funnel but also the backlog items/opportunity areas.
If there is a clear drop off at a particular point then everything within that section of the backlog is now your top priority. You get laser-focus, and you keep focusing on that section of the backlog until the numbers improve or if you get another compelling reason to focus on something else.
Get started with this template right now.
Product Roadmap (Now, Next, Later, Trash)
Works best for:
Planning, Mapping
The Product Roadmap (Now, Next, Later, Trash) template allows teams to organize their product development initiatives into four distinct categories: current priorities, upcoming features, future plans, and discarded ideas. By visualizing the roadmap in this manner, teams can maintain focus on immediate objectives while keeping an eye on future opportunities and managing stakeholder expectations effectively.
Product Management - Product Flow
Works best for:
Product Management, Planning
Product Management - Product Flow template enables product managers to visualize and streamline product development processes. By mapping out key stages, tasks, and dependencies, this template enhances workflow transparency and coordination. With features for identifying bottlenecks and optimizing resource allocation, it empowers teams to improve efficiency and accelerate product delivery. This template serves as a valuable tool for ensuring smooth product development and launch processes, ultimately driving better outcomes.
Product Reflection
Works best for:
Product Management, Planning
The Product Reflection template encourages teams to reflect on past experiences and lessons learned in product development journeys. By facilitating retrospective sessions, capturing insights, and identifying improvement opportunities, this template fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement. With sections for evaluating successes, challenges, and areas for growth, it enables teams to iterate on their processes and enhance future product development efforts. This template serves as a tool for fostering team collaboration and driving iterative product innovation.
Decision Tree Template
Works best for:
Decision Making, Mind Mapping, Diagrams
Making difficult decisions gets easier when you can look clearly at your choices and visualize the outcomes. That’s just what a decision tree will help you do, empowering you to invest your time and money with confidence. A decision tree is a flowchart that looks just how you’d imagine—with “branches” that represent your available choices. It provides a stylized way to play out a series of decisions and see where they lead before you commit your real-world resources, which is especially valuable for startups and smaller companies.
Technology Product Canvas Template
Works best for:
Product Management, Meetings
Originally created by Prem Sundaram, the Technology Product Canvas allows product and engineering teams to achieve alignment about their shared roadmap. The canvas combines agile methodologies with UX principles to help validate product solutions. Each team states and visualizes both product and technology goals, then discusses each stage of the roadmap explicitly. This exercise ensures the teams are in sync and everyone leaves with clear expectations and direction. By going through the process of creating a Technology Product Canvas, you can start managing alignment between the teams -- in under an hour.
Fit Gap Analysis Template
Works best for:
Strategy, Planning, Management
The Fit Gap Analysis Template is a strategic tool designed to help teams and organizations identify discrepancies between their current state and desired outcomes. By visualizing these gaps, it offers a clear roadmap for improvement, allowing for a focused alignment of resources. One significant benefit of using this template is enhanced clarity; teams can visually discern where they currently stand and plot a precise path toward their goals, ensuring efficient decision-making and effective resource allocation.