12. Focus
Scrap
Kill
Reject
Po stpo neNo case,
no
project
You need it later -
We’ll do it later
Not worth it Times have
changed
Minimizing your product backlog takes courage!
13. A product backlog before optimization
This isn’t done
because of that
We work on
this, this, this, this
And that
Project name Priority Focus
SpringCore security plugin for user portal 1 Full
Linux server security patch 1 High
Ordering platform for ABC product 1 High
Create a blog for sales team 2 Medium
Internal Wiki 3 Medium
Internal chat tool 3 Medium
Business report for ABC product 3 Medium
Product homepage for ABC product 3 Medium
Interface to tool XYZ 3 Low
Install Jenkins 3 Low
Many ongoing projects reduce efficiency and cause delay.
14. Link value to time
Will it make a difference if the solution is
delayed by 1 month?
Focus on stuff
that can’t wait
If it can wait,
Let it wait!
15. An optimized project backlog
Project name Mandatory? Value Realism Challenge Priority Action
Linux server security patch Y 1 Do
SpringCore security plugin for user portalY 1 Do
Ordering platform for ABC product N 1 Do
Install Jenkins N 3 Do
Create a blog for sales team N 2 Postpone
Internal Wiki N 3 Postpone
Internal chat tool N 3 Postpone
Business report for ABC product N 3 Scrap
Product homepage for ABC product N 3 Scrap
Interface to tool XYZ N 3 Scrap
Don’t ask again.
Never.
Ever.
Getting a few things done is better than having many things “not yet done”.
We’ll do that
if nothing better
comes up.
Later.
Out of focus,
out of mind
Focus
22. Visible Progress
Tasks
• Every task, a
few commits
People
• Every person,
every day one
task
Stories
• Every couple of
days, at least
one story
Iteration
• Every iteration,
at least a
handful of
“stories”
Releases
• Every release,
significant new
features
Product
• Every 1-3
months, one
release
Is this happening? Permanent Sanity-Check
23. Establish momentum
Get things done
Celebrate small victories
Build on what you have
Make realistic promises - and keep them!
Make results visible