Prioritizing and refining your product backlog

Backlog grooming, sometimes called backlog pruning, is the regular process of keeping the product backlog clear, relevant, and manageable. The goal is to make sure the backlog reflects the team’s current objectives rather than becoming a dumping ground for every idea. A healthy backlog helps teams focus on the work that matters and prepares them for upcoming sprints.

During grooming sessions, teams review items together to ensure shared understanding. High-priority items that are coming up soon are detailed enough to be ready for development. Lower-priority items can remain at a higher level until their time comes. Outdated or irrelevant items are removed so the backlog does not grow out of control.

Dependencies are also addressed during grooming. Technical dependencies may require building infrastructure first, while business dependencies could mean waiting for approvals or partnerships. Mapping these clearly allows the team to sequence work in a way that minimizes blocking. When some dependencies cannot be avoided, identifying independent items helps maintain steady progress.^[1]