Agile software development introduced the backlog as a beautiful, powerful, and delightfully simple tool for managing variability and uncertainty in modern organizations. Unfortunately, the backlog can also be a major impediment to flow and break the value stream with substantial economic loss. This happens because our traditional model of backlog management presents the backlog as a stack of plates reservoir for the development team. Agile grew up, and now so does our model of the backlog. Based on the recently launched book “The Rock Crusher” (available from Amazon or the IIBA) this session introduces a flow-based model for backlog management. We explore how some organisations are managing their backlogs well, yet others struggle, show how turbulence is necessary for innovation, introduce the waste gate as a way to help focus on doing the right work and show how using a rock crusher helps maximise the value generated for our customers and stakeholders.