Big Backlogs

Topics Covered:

• The problem with traditional prioritization models like ICE and RICE

• Why “avoid prioritization at all costs” is more than just a catchy phrase

• Comparing and contrasting vs. spreadsheet-driven guesswork

• Tactical ways to clean up your backlog:

• Auto-closing old tickets

• Archiving items no one understands

• Using themes, initiatives, and user group tagging

• The "Inbox Zero" approach to product management

• How to use strategic filters (outcomes + customer needs) instead of prioritizing everything

• The importance of early wins when inheriting a new product or team

• Time-boxed onboarding for product folks who are new to a team

• Real-world stories & examples:

• Petra shares how automatic ticket pruning saved hundreds of items

• Teresa’s database “one-day project” that took a full week (and what it reveals about hidden work)

• How to carve out time for discovery—even in a feature factory

Resources & Links:

• Follow Teresa Torres: ProductTalk.org

• Follow Petra Wille: Petra-Wille.com

Mentioned in the episode:

• ICE, RICE, MICE, and VICE Scoring Models (amazon.com/Hacking-Growth-Fastest-Growing-Comp…) developed by Sean Ellis (seanellis.me)

• Jira (atlassian.com/software/jira)

• My Organization Doesn't Work That Way (youtube.com/watch?v=IrqN_mbLWFI) - All Things Product with Teresa & Petra

• Opportunity Solution Trees: Visualize Your Discovery to Stay Aligned and Drive Outcomes (producttalk.org/2023/12/opportunity-solution-t…)

• Inbox Zero (library.mailmanhq.com/how-to-inbox-zero) coined by Merlin Mann (merlinmann.com)

• Ask the Community: What Do You Do When You Inherit a Giant Product Backlog? (producttalk.org/2024/12/inherit-product-backlo…)

• STRONG Product People: A Complete Guide to Developing Great Product Managers (strongproductpeople.com/book) - Book by Petra Wille

• Illustration (images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efc6a0b…) from Petra’s book about early wins and building trust during onboarding