Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast

Xmas Special: Keep Your Backlog Microscopic - The #NoBacklogs Revolution With Vasco Duarte In the fourth episode of the “5 Wishes for 2025” series, Vasco Duarte takes on a common yet overlooked productivity killer: the monster backlog. With humor, relatable analogies, and practical advice, Vasco shares how organizations can turn their overwhelming backlogs into powerful tools for focus and impact. The Backlog Problem: When More Becomes Too Much “Your backlog should be like your fridge, not your basement – keep only what you’ll use soon, not what you might need someday!” Vasco opens by comparing bloated backlogs to storage boxes filled with old cables and chargers: seemingly useful but rarely touched. Sharing the story of Juha, a leader overwhelmed by a five-year backlog of epics, Vasco highlights how backlogs can grow out of control, becoming a source of stress rather than a tool for productivity. A #NoBacklogs Approach to Backlog Management “Your backlog should only contain work for the next 2-