How to plan a backlog with Kanban and Prioritization

This product backlog has eight activities and two milestones, from customer interviews in May to a summer release in July. The Kanban board and prioritization matrix below show the same plan and stay synchronized. Drag a card in either view, then inspect it in the other.

Kanban board: what is happening now

Columns separate To do, In progress and Done. Card colors show impact, so a high-impact activity is recognizable even as its status changes.

Customer interviews and Fix signup errors are done. Simplify onboarding and Self-service billing are in progress; four activities remain to do. In a weekly review, use these columns to discuss which work should finish before something else starts. Drag Simplify onboarding to Done and its card in the matrix changes status color too.

Prioritization matrix: what is worth the effort

Rows show High, Medium and Low impact; columns show Small, Medium and Large effort. Colors now show status, keeping current work visible while you compare priorities.

Export invoices has medium impact and small effort, while Account audit log has medium impact and large effort. The smaller item looks easier to take on, but it still depends on Self-service billing. The matrix is a judgement about value and effort; it does not remove dependencies or reschedule work.

Try moving Save favorite filters from low impact to high impact while keeping its effort small. The Kanban card changes impact color without changing status. Moving between effort columns updates the estimate category; it does not change the activity's duration. The two views describe different dimensions of the same activities, so they remain useful together.

Make it yours

1. Choose Open in Tidigar under either view to keep your own editable copy. No account is needed.
2. Rename the activities and set their dates and dependencies to match your backlog.
3. Use the Kanban board to update status, and the matrix to discuss impact and effort with your team.
4. Save both views. Change their row, column or color dimensions in Customize view as your planning questions change.

Frequently asked questions

Is the matrix a separate plan? No. Both embeds show the same project. Changes synchronize on this page; they are not published back to an original project elsewhere.

Does high impact mean work must start first? No. Impact and effort are categories you assign. Dependencies and dates still determine the order of work.

Can I use different priority categories? Yes. Rename the values or add your own dimensions, then select them as the matrix's rows and columns. See the product launch plan for teams working toward one date on a timeline and in a dependency flow.