Backlog Management: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Improper prioritization can cost you time and money. In this article, I share the most common mistakes I see when managing backlogs and how to solve them with an agile approach.

1. Treating the backlog as a wish list

The backlog isn’t an endless inbox of ideas. It’s a strategic tool to move closer to the product vision. How to avoid it: link every item to a business goal or outcome.

2. Prioritizing only by urgency

Letting daily pressure dictate priorities leads to reactive teams. How to avoid it: apply clear criteria (value, risk, effort) and frameworks like RICE or MoSCoW.

3. Over-detailing too early

Spending hours defining stories that won’t be tackled soon is wasted effort. How to avoid it: keep long-term items high level, and only detail what’s planned for the short term.

4. Failing to review and clean up

Backlogs con cientos de ítems desactualizados confunden y desgastan al equipo.
Cómo evitarlo: revisa periódicamente, elimina lo que ya no aporta valor y conserva un backlog manejable.

5. Forgetting the user

Backlogs with hundreds of outdated items confuse and drain the team. How to avoid it: run regular grooming sessions, remove items with no value, and keep the backlog manageable.

A healthy backlog isn’t static: it’s continuously refined, tied to measurable outcomes, and keeps the team focused on what truly creates impact.