The document discusses applying the KonMari tidying method to product backlogs. It recommends defining a product vision, finding all product backlog items (PBIs) and putting them in one place, sorting PBIs by category, starting with easier items, and keeping only those PBIs that "spark joy" or delight customers. It provides tips on storage methods like story mapping and vertical folding. The goal is to simplify the backlog to facilitate decision-making and focus on the most important work.

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KonMari Your
Backlog
Tidying Up Those PBIs
Julie Wyman
Jennifer Forrest
@jenoftheforrest

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The inspiration

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Applying
tidying
at work
Project 1:
Case management
system support
Project 2:
Web portal development

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Agenda
1. Product Backlog pop quiz!
2. Why tidy up?
3. How does this work
for a Product Backlog?
4. Tips on storage
5. Next steps

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Pop Quiz!

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QUESTION 1
How many PBIs
are currently in
your backlog?

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QUESTION 2
How long has the
oldest PBI been on
the backlog?

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QUESTION 3 How many sets of
duplicate PBIs?

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QUESTION 4 Are work items hiding
in any other locations?

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QUESTION 5
Could a randomly
selected team
member find a PBI?

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Product Backlog
Pop Quiz
1. How many PBIs are in your backlog?
2. How old is the oldest PBI?
3. How many sets of duplicate PBIs?
4. Are PBIs hiding in any other locations?
5. Could a randomly selected team
member find a specific PBI?

12. Why tidy up?

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Principles behind the Agile Manifesto
Simplicity – the art
of maximizing the
amount of work not
done – is essential.

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Without
simplicity…
• Mental overhead
• Everything becomes noise
• Can’t find what’s important

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As a result…
• Harder to make decisions
• Impossible to prioritize

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Simplicity supports self-organization

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Reduce
future stress
by making a
mindset shift

18. How to
start?

19. Five Steps

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Think of Your
Product Vision

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Find all PBIs.
Put them in one place.
Uncover “unofficial backlogs”
Combine separate lists of
features, enhancements, bugs,
technical debt items, etc.

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Sort by
category.
Sort to help make sense
What are some possible
Product Backlog categories?

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Start simply.
Practice with easier items
Build up your tidying skills
before tackling harder items

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Keep what
“sparks joy”
Delight the customer
Let go of some “good” ideas“This is not only the simplest but also the
most accurate yardstick by which to judge”
- Marie Kondo

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Five
Steps
Recap
1) Define your product vision
2) Find all PBIs –
put them in one place
3) Sort by category
4) Start simply
5) Keep what “sparks joy”

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Decide to keep
or discard first.
Then worry
about refining.

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If you’re stuck…
Find a PBI that definitely
sparks joy
Use that as a benchmark
to help compare against others

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Be respectful
when discarding
Recognize that emotions
may be involved
Appreciate the time and
effort that was put in

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Don’t create clutter
for another team
If it’s not important enough
to be on your backlog,
they don’t need to it either
Let go.
Do not
pass along.

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Do it
all at once.
Invest the necessary
amount of time
One product backlog
by the time you’re done

32. Storage

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Increase
visibility
Empower self-organization
by making it easy for anyone to
find what they need
Facilitate decision-making
by highlighting key information

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Vertical Folding
Before
After

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For backlogs … try story mapping
Concept source: Jeff Patton
https://www.jpattonassociate
s.com/user-story-mapping/

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Story Map Benefits
Visualizes the
requirements
Provides a
holistic view
Makes
prioritization
easier

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Cluttered Board

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Tidy Board

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Board view: before and after

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Cluttered Story View

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Tidy Story View

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Tidy Story View

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Story view: before and after

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Don’t become a
storage expert
Don’t focus too much on storage
Keep it simple, so you’ll actually do it
Not about using a particular tool

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Wrapping Up

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Okay, so…
now what?
What did you learn today
that you can use to help
your team ace the
Product Backlog pop quiz?

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Marie Kondo
resources
Website: https://konmari.com/
Netflix: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
Books by Marie Kondo:
1. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The
Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
2. Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the
Art of Organizing and Tidying Up
3. Life-Changing Magic: A Journal
4. The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A
Magical Story

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Additional
resources
• KonMari for a Product Backlog that Sparks Joy
• The Life Changing Magic of Tidying (Your Product Features) Up
• Does your Scrum Team have a compulsive hoarding disorder?
• The Project-changing Magic of Tidying Up Your Backlog
• KONMARI YOUR CODE; REFACTOR YOUR LIFE
• Four Steps to Keep Your Product Backlog Small and Manageable
• 5 Benefits of Story Mps
• Story Mapping Resources from Jeff Patton
• INVEST in Good Stories, and SMART Tasks

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How to
reach us…
Julie Wyman
julie.wyman@excella.com
https://excellalabs.com/people/juliewyman/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-wyman/
Jenn Forrest
jennifer.forrest@excella.com
@jenoftheforrest
https://excellalabs.com/people/jenniferforrest/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennforrest/

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Give it a try.
WHY?
A simpler, tidier backlog …
• facilitates better decision-making
• leads to better products
HOW?
• Do it all at once.
• Sort.
• Start with the easy stuff.
Don’t let the clutter sneak up
on you…
make the mindset shift now!

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Raffle
time!

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Image Sources
https://konmari.com/collections/books/products/the-life-
changing-magic-of-tidying-up
https://www.netflix.com/title/80209379