Managing a massive and overwhelming product backlog
What steps do you take to clean up an outdated backlog?
About this question
Category
Product Execution
Subcategory
Backlog Refinement
Difficulty
Medium
Est. time
30 min
What this question helps you practice
This product execution question tests whether you can turn an overwhelming backlog into a decision-ready system. A strong response should explain how you audit backlog health, remove stale work, group themes, prioritize by strategy and evidence, and create a sustainable refinement process.
How to practice
Audit backlog health
Measure size, age, duplicates, unclear items, owner gaps, and alignment with current goals.
Triage and restructure
Delete, merge, archive, clarify, or group items into themes with clear ownership and evidence.
Create an ongoing process
Set intake rules, review cadence, prioritization criteria, and stakeholder communication norms.
Strong answer signals
Defines criteria for what to keep, archive, merge, clarify, or reject.
Links backlog cleanup to product strategy, team capacity, and stakeholder trust.
Creates a repeatable process so the backlog does not become overwhelming again.
Common mistakes
Sorting everything by stakeholder urgency instead of strategic value.
Keeping every old item because someone might ask for it later.
Doing a one-time cleanup without changing the intake and review process.
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Practice your answer in the interactive workspace.
Keep practicing
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Eliminate the disjointedness of a flat backlog. User Story Mapping is a 2D framework that helps Product Teams link features directly to the user journey, sharpening MVP definition and release strategies.
