A product backlog is a list of action items related to product development that helps teams plan, prioritize, and manage tasks. It is a project management tool that helps keep track of what needs to be done. The most important tasks are at the top of the product backlog so that teams know what to work on first.
Product backlogs provide an essential planning tool for development teams, as well as a single source of truth for everyone involved to know what is being worked on. By using backlog templates, developers can more easily manage stakeholders' expectations and keep everyone aligned.
What is a Product Backlog Template used for?
This template is a great way for teams to manage tasks and prioritize them using agile and sprint planning. You can add all ideas and tasks to the FigJam Board from any device and share it with your team. As you work, you can move tasks to the starting line and stay focused on the most critical issues. You can also track results to see how well you and your team are doing.
Benefits of using a Product Backlog Template
The backlog template is a popular Agile tool for many reasons. One reason is that teams can use it with the Product Roadmap to define what they need to work on, giving managers the big picture. Here are other benefits when using the Product Backlog Template:
- The product backlog template allows you to save time and create a product backlog quickly and efficiently.
- If you already have a backlog, you can import your spreadsheets as sticky notes to reduce future effort.
- If your backlog is intricate and seems to take up endless space on the board, the Text Search feature can help you find items by keyword.
- You can use digital sticky notes and separate them by size and color or by tags and clusters. Once your product backlog is filled, you can work on grooming and prioritizing specific features.
- You can also import Jira cards to visually organize Jira issues directly on your Product Backlog Template.
How do you create a Product Backlog?
Here is an example of how to fill in your backlog template to set your team up for success:
Step 1: Roadmaps and requirements
The requirements and roadmap are the foundation for every product backlog. The roadmap is scaffolding for how the project will take shape and the requirements are the list of backlog items development teams need to accomplish to complete the project. Make note of both so you can start building around them.
For example, let's say your development team is building an app that shows runners how safe a given road is. Since this app is the highest priority for the company, it is the first and most important item on the roadmap. The team must first collect data on road safety, which would be listed as a requirement.
Step 2: List tasks
- List the tasks you must accomplish in order to finish the first item on your roadmap
- Draw those tasks under each action item on the map
- Put these tasks in order according to their urgency
Teams usually assign the highest priority to tasks with the most impact on customers. User stories often help teams understand which features will be most noticeable and useful to customers. Teams also prioritize based on how urgently they need feedback, the difficulty of implementation, and the relationship between work teams.
Step 3: Team review
Product owners should review the product backlog before each planning meeting to ensure that the backlog is prioritized and that developers are implementing feedback.
Step 4: Sort
Backlog items can be grouped into near-term and long-term items. Near-term items should be fleshed out before sorting them. This includes making sure that product teams and design teams are on the same page, and clarifying development estimates. Longer-term items can remain vague, but should have a rough description and timeline.
