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.
Sales Strategy Gantt Chart
Works best for:
Strategy, Planning
Creating and executing a sales strategy requires meticulous planning. The Sales Strategy Gantt Chart template helps you map out every step of your strategy, from goal setting to implementation and review. Visualize key activities, set timelines, and assign tasks to ensure your sales team stays focused and aligned. This template enables you to track progress, measure performance, and make data-driven adjustments for better sales outcomes.
BPM
Works best for:
Diagramming
The BPM (Business Process Management) template is a visual tool for modeling, analyzing, and optimizing business processes. It provides a structured framework for documenting process flows, identifying bottlenecks, and improving efficiency. This template enables organizations to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and drive business performance. By promoting process transparency and agility, the BPM template empowers teams to achieve operational excellence and deliver value to stakeholders.
IASA - Product Roadmap Canvas
Works best for:
Roadmap, Mapping, Planning
The IASA - Product Roadmap Canvas template offers a holistic view of product development by integrating key elements such as customer needs, business goals, and technology requirements. By utilizing this canvas, teams can align their product strategy with market demands and ensure that development efforts are focused on delivering maximum value to customers.
SIPOC
Works best for:
Agile Methodology
The SIPOC template by Dagmar Vlahos provides a structured framework for documenting the high-level process flow of a system or project. It helps teams identify Suppliers, Inputs, Processes, Outputs, and Customers, facilitating a holistic understanding of the value stream. By visualizing key process elements and interdependencies, this template enables teams to identify areas for improvement and optimize workflow efficiency, empowering organizations to deliver value more effectively and satisfy customer needs.
Stakeholder Mapping Template
Works best for:
Business Management, Mapping, Workflows
A stakeholder map is a type of analysis that allows you to group people by their power and interest. Use this template to organize all of the people who have an interest in your product, project, or idea in a single visual space. This allows you to easily see who can influence your project, and how each person is related to the other. Widely used in project management, stakeholder mapping is typically performed at the beginning of a project. Doing stakeholder mapping early on will help prevent miscommunication, ensure all groups are aligned on the objectives and set expectations about outcomes and results.
Fishbone Diagram for Service Improvement
Works best for:
Fishbone diagram
The Basic Fishbone Diagram, also known as the Ishikawa or cause-and-effect diagram, is a powerful tool for identifying the root causes of problems. Use this template to systematically explore and document potential causes of an issue, categorizing them into key areas such as people, processes, equipment, and materials. This visual approach helps teams collaborate on problem-solving, ensuring all factors are considered and addressed effectively.