8 Different Ways to Organize Your Backlog
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 MapUser 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.
This template was created by Ant Murphy.
Get started with this template right now.
Advanced Project Gantt Chart Template
Works best for:
Gantt Chart, Planning
Manage complex projects with ease using the Advance Project Gantt Chart Template. This tool helps you schedule tasks, set deadlines, and track progress in a visual format. Ensure that all team members are aligned and that your project stays on track. Ideal for project managers handling multifaceted projects with multiple dependencies and timelines.
Project Review Template
Works best for:
Project Management, Project Review
The Intelligent Project Review Template in Miro is a game-changer for project management. It combines AI-driven insights with interactive features to streamline the review process, making it more efficient and collaborative. One key benefit of this template is its ability to enhance team alignment. By providing a structured format for documenting timelines, hypotheses, target audiences, success metrics, and potential blockers, it ensures that all stakeholders are on the same page, fostering a shared understanding and confidence in the project's direction.
Event Planning Template
Works best for:
Planning, Workshops
Whether you’re planning a product launch, fully remote conference, or milestone event, the Event Planning Template will act as a visual checklist and map for all the details you need to consider before the big day. The Event Planning Template is an adaptable way to make sure the creative and strategic vision of your event doesn’t get lost in the details. By mapping out different sections - from the marketing plan, to the agenda, to snacks and swag for guests — you and your team can focus on the details most important to your functions, and collaborate as needed when overlaps occur.
Business Model Canvas Template
Works best for:
Leadership, Agile Methodology, Strategic Planning
Your business model: Nothing is more fundamental to who you are, what you create and sell, or ultimately whether or not you succeed. Using nine key building blocks (representing nine core business elements), a BMC gives you a highly usable strategic tool to develop and display your business model. What makes this template great for your team? It’s quick and easy to use, it keeps your value proposition front and center, and it creates a space to inspire ideation.
Funding Tracker Template
Works best for:
Kanban Boards, Operations
For many organizations, especially non-profits, funding is their lifeblood—and meeting fundraising goals is a crucial part of carrying out their mission. A funding tracker gives them a powerful, easy-to-use tool for measuring their progress and staying on course. And beyond helping you visualize milestones, this template will give you an effective way to inspire the public to donate, and help you keep track of those donors. It’s especially useful when you have multiple donations coming from a variety of sources.
Target Audience Template
Works best for:
Marketing, Desk Research, Prioritization
Understanding your target audience is vital to business success. How can you market yourself effectively if you don’t know who you’re targeting? Using the Target Audience template, you can review valuable data about who your customers are and what they want from your product or service.