backlog Archives

Project & Team Management

Is the Backlog Getting Too Big? Here’s What to Cut!

Backlog getting out of control? Try these tips for cleaning up the product backlog so product teams can move quickly and efficiently.

Project & Team Management

Need a Knowledge Transfer Plan? Start by Defining the Backlog

Ending a multi-year project means the team has a lot of expertise to share. Here's how we built a knowledge transfer backlog.

Project & Team Management

How to Keep Your Jira Project From Becoming a Dumpster Fire

Jira's breadth of customizations and features can also be a downside. Let's take a look at a few common pitfalls in a typical Jira project.

Project & Team Management

3 Tips for Developers Writing Backlog Items

It's one thing to execute backlog items and another to be the author of the backlog. Here are a few tips to write better backlog stories.

Extracurricular Activities

Scrum Your Money, Part 3: Backlog

Answer a few important questions. From there, create a backlog to map out and prioritize the steps to get to your money goal.

Project & Team Management

Bulleted List: Use This Lo-fi Tool for Backlog Planning

Avoiding backlog management software in the early stages of a project has proved valuable. Here's the low-fi tool I use for backlog planning.

Personal Optimization

Embracing Sprint-Based Backlogs to Prepare our Home for Sale by October

My wife and I borrowed from the world of programming and use sprint-based backlog management in preparation for an upcoming home sale.

Development Practices

Useful Tools for Facilitating Planning Poker Estimation

Planning Poker provides an engaging way for the team to discuss implementation approaches and build consensus around the effort involved.

Managing Your Team

Why Developers and Managers Should Co-Own the Backlog

In the most successful projects, the backlog is co-owned by developers and managers. Learn why this approach to backlog management works.

The Software Life

Understanding Software Jargon, Part 2: Process Terms

In the second part of this three-part series, I'll cover some common process terms you'll hear working on your first custom software product.

Project & Team Management

Rethinking Agile, Part 4: Start Estimating Value

I propose that we stop measuring throughput or velocity. Instead, companies should empower software teams to make value estimates on individual work items.

Project & Team Management

Rethinking Agile, Part 3: Stop Estimating Effort

In this third part of my Rethinking Agile series, instead of adding practices, I recommend something for you to remove. That is, stop estimating effort!