What Is a Product Backlog?

A product backlog is a to-do list that guides your team’s activities based on priority. It places the most critical tasks at the top of the list, enabling a top-down approach and seamless collaboration across all teams.

Product backlogs are set through roadmap processes, which align high-level goals to structure a strategic plan for the ultimate vision. Essentially, it’s the list of tasks necessary to meet the vision outlined in the roadmap. They’re often used by development teams in Agile and Scrum methodologies.

Who is the owner of the product backlog?

The product owner or owners are responsible for the product backlog. Their goal is to maximize the value of the product and are often continually updating tasks related to improving product performance.

What does a product backlog include?

A product backlog includes various items that can be categorized as bug fixes, features, technical debts, knowledge acquisitions, or changes, each serving different purposes within the backlog:

• Bug fixes: A software coding error that needs to be addressed quickly to prevent compromising the product. Bugs that interrupt the current workload may take priority over less damaging bugs.

• Features: Parts of a product that are important to the user. These are essentially descriptions of user requirements and can be classified as “epic” if they’re complex or “simple” for straightforward ones.

• Technical debt: Similar to financial debt, technical debt worsens if left unaddressed. It refers to neglected work that’s repeatedly pushed down the product backlog instead of being solved promptly—this will require later visits and more effort and time.

• Knowledge acquisition: Tasks that require gathering more information, which usually involve prototypes or experiments that require additional insight.

• Changes: Any change requests from the clients to be addressed by the developing team.

Product backlog example

A product backlog can include any priority task item for you or your team, meaning examples range depending on your specific area. If you were working with a website, examples of this could include updating a profile page, adding links between tabs, responding to user feedback, or updating site content.

Related terms

• Agile project management

• Scope creep

• Product lifecycle

• Competitive product

Learn more about product management

Consider pursuing a Professional Certificate to gain a deeper understanding of the various product management processes. Coursera hosts a number of options, including the IBM Product Manager Professional Certificate, which helps you learn how to identify product strategy development and implementation methods, develop a working knowledge of Agile and adaptive methodologies, and explore best practices to ensure the right product is produced.