How to Prioritize Features in a Product Backlog

Stephen Butts #John316
PM101
Published in
5 min readJan 10, 2023

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“The product backlog is a living document, a to-do list of things that need to be done. It’s constantly changing as new information becomes available, and it should be continuously reviewed and reprioritized by the product owner.” -Scrum Guide

When it comes to developing a new product, there are always more features and ideas than can be implemented in a given timeframe. That’s where a product backlog comes in — it’s a prioritized list of everything that needs to be done for the product. However, not all features are created equal and it’s important to prioritize them in a way that aligns with the overall goals and objectives of the product.

There are several different approaches to prioritizing features in a product backlog. Here are a few that can help:

  1. Prioritize based on customer needs: Start by identifying the customer needs and pain points that the product aims to address. Prioritize the features that address the most critical customer needs first. This approach ensures that the product will be delivering value to customers from the start.
  2. Prioritize based on strategic importance: Consider how each feature aligns with the…

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Stephen Butts #John316
PM101

Industrial Engineer turned Product Manager looking to share my expertise with the world. #John316