What’s the Right Balance of Work Item Types for Backlog Transparency?

Transparency suffers when you have either too few or too many work item types. The right balance depends on your domain, culture, and context. Aim for enough types to differentiate work clearly, but not so many that choosing the right type creates friction.

Metaphor

Defining work item types is a Goldilocks problem—too few lumps everything together, too many create decision fatigue.
Find the “just right” balance so transparency thrives without overthinking every ticket.

Works Consulted

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Connections

follows:: Work Item Types Improve Transparency