--- sourceDocument: Australia Strategic Portfolio Management sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/it-business-management Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Strategic Portfolio Management ft:clusterId : - itbm bundleId : - itbm workflow : - Technology --- # Manage team backlog # Manage team backlog in EAP {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated May 22, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 4 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Manage team backlog in EAP The Enterprise Agile Planning (EAP) Backlog page enables ServiceNow customers to create, update, prioritize, and schedule work items across different agile team levels---ranging from Agile Teams to Portfolios. This functionality supports organizing work into iterations such as Planning Intervals (PIs) and Sprints, facilitating effective backlog management tailored to your configured agile structure. Show full answer Show less ## Layout and Work Item Grouping * The Backlog layout is consistent across Agile Teams, Agile Release Trains (ARTs), Solution Trains, and Portfolios, with grouping varying by level: * Agile Team: grouped by Sprints * ART: grouped by Planning Intervals * Solution Train: grouped by child ARTs * Portfolio: grouped by child Solution Trains * Kanban teams have a different grouping approach, with Portfolios grouped by child teams and Team-level work displayed as a list. * The default number of displayed iterations is six but can be adjusted by an admin via system properties. ## Work Item Types and Visibility * Work items shown correspond to the type mapped for each team in EAP configuration (e.g., Stories, Features, Capabilities, Epics), with options to change the displayed type as needed. * Details for each work item can be viewed in a side panel or fully opened to access all fields and related lists. * Completed or cancelled items are hidden by default in the Backlog but remain visible in iteration sections; admins can modify this behavior through system properties. ## Backlog Management Features * Column-level filtering allows users to efficiently locate work items based on various criteria such as choice, string, or reference fields. * Within the Backlog, users can: * Create and edit iterations (PIs and Sprints) with start/end dates and capacity details. * Add new work items and break down parent items into child stories directly. * Schedule, reorder (when grouping is off), start, and complete iterations. * Make inline edits to work item fields like Status, Assigned to, and Story points. * Open work items in new tabs and customize displayed columns. * Add frequently accessed teams to Favorites for quick navigation. ## Enhanced Functionality with ServiceNow Otto * Assess epic health across six risk dimensions with color-coded status and plain-English reasoning to aid portfolio managers. * Generate complete user stories from epics, including title, description, and acceptance criteria, using Quick Story Generation. * Create multiple stories simultaneously from epics or features to streamline backlog refinement. * Automatically generate clear and testable acceptance criteria for user stories, with options to review and refine. ## Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers This functionality allows agile teams and portfolio managers to effectively manage and prioritize work, maintain visibility into progress at all agile levels, and leverage AI-driven automation to accelerate backlog grooming and story creation. Customization options and filtering enhance usability, while iteration management supports agile cadence and delivery tracking---all integrated within the ServiceNow platform. Using the Backlog page of Enterprise Agile Planning, create, update, and prioritize work items. Additionally, schedule work items into iterations such as Planning Intervals (PI) or Sprints. The following sections provide a brief overview of EAP Backlog and the actions that you can perform in it. ## Layout and default grouping {#using-eap__section_yq1_l1r_21c} The layout of Backlog across different team levels such as Agile Team, Agile Release Train (ART), Solution Train, or Portfolio, remains the same. The change is in the way that the work items are grouped. As you go bottom to top in an Agile structure, the work assigned to the teams is grouped as follows: Important: The team hierarchy and the iterations within teams are based on your EAP configuration. The following information applies to the default Full Configuration. * Agile Team: Grouped by Sprints. * ART: Grouped by Planning Intervals. * Solution Train: Grouped by child ARTs. * Portfolio: Grouped by child Solution Trains. {#using-eap__ul_jfj_gzq_21c}Any work item that doesn't fall into any of these groups is displayed in the Backlog section. By default, the number of iterations that the Backlog page displays is set to 6. You can work with your admin to modify this number using a system property. For more information, see [Configure the display limit of iterations in EAP Backlog](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/KdbCmpb_di9iiZLuqmBS8w "Create a system property to modify the limit on the number of iterations displayed for an EAP Team in its Backlog in Enterprise Agile Planning (EAP)."). ## Layout and default grouping for Kanban teams {#using-eap__section_utl_3b3_cfc} The Backlog for teams using the Kanban configuration is grouped as follows: * Portfolio: Assigned work items are grouped by child teams. Any work item that is not assigned to the child teams is displayed in the Backlog section. * Team: Assigned work is displayed in a list. {#using-eap__ul_apn_pc3_cfc} ## Default work items {#using-eap__section_t1x_n1r_21c} The work items shown in Backlog are of the Type that is mapped for this team in the configuration. As you move up in your Agile structure, the level of the work assigned also increases. At an Agile Team level, you see information of stories. As you move up through ARTs and Portfolios, you see information of Features, Capabilities, and Epics. However, at any level, you can change the type of the work items displayed. For example, in the screenshot, Capability is the default item type mapped to Compliance and onboarding tech Solution Train based on its configuration. You can change this selection to see work of other types assigned to this team. When this selection is changed to Feature, you can see all the features assigned to this ART. Similarly, you can choose to create and assign a different type of work item for this Solution Train, even though its default item type is Capability. View the details of any work item in the side panel by selecting its primary column. To access all the fields and related lists of the work item, select Full details from the side panel. Note: The Backlog page for an EAP team shows only those work items that are enabled in its default configuration. For example, for an ART with Full Configuration, the Backlog might show only Features by default. If you want to view other work item types such as Capabilities, Epics, or Stories, work with your admin to update the required EAP configuration details. For more information, see [Configure display of other work item types in EAP](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/kwerDz6G96020N8WGKo0vA "Enable viewing different work item types in the Backlog and Planning board pages for EAP teams such as Portfolio, Solution Train, Agile Release Train, or Agile Team."). ## Completed and cancelled items in Backlog {#using-eap__section_inactive_items_in_backlog} The Backlog section hides completed and cancelled work items by default, so the list shows only items that are active and ready to plan or schedule. Sprint and Planning Interval (PI) sections continue to show all work items, giving you visibility into both ongoing and finished work for each iteration. You can work with your admin to change either default per section using two system properties: `sn_apw_advanced.show_inactive_items_in_backlog_list` for the Backlog section and `sn_apw_advanced.show_inactive_items_in_iteration` for iteration sections. For more information about both properties, see [Properties installed with Enterprise Agile Planning](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/OUyzUALK8_anT7hNZHvZzg "System properties that you can configure to modify the way your product manager or scrum team members view their work in the Enterprise Agile Planning (EAP) workspace."). ## Column-level filtering of data {#using-eap__section_vjt_ngg_cfc} Quickly find the work items that you need by using column-level filters for the data on your EAP Backlog. Using the Column filtering option (![]()), you can filter data on any column displayed on the Backlog tab, which is of the type choice, string, or reference. ## Actions within the Backlog {#using-eap__section_rcw_l1r_21c} Within the Backlog, you can perform the following actions: * Create iterations such as PIs or Sprints for your teams. * Add work to the team's Backlog. * Schedule work from Backlog into different iterations. * Make in-line edits to update information of work such as Status, Assigned to, or Story points. * Reorder planning items (in a section) to prioritize them.However, reordering is not possible when the planning items are grouped. For example you grouped the items in the Backlog section by State, you won't be able to reorder the items unless the grouping is removed. * Start and complete those iterations. * Move incomplete work to the Backlog. * Filter the data that's displayed. * Choose the columns to be displayed. * Open a work item in a new tab. {#using-eap__ul_svw_bbr_21c} Use the following tasks to start creating and scheduling work for teams in EAP. * **[Creating iterations for teams in EAP](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/T37_C7O_E8v0ZMalO6gIWQ)** Create Planning Intervals (PIs) and Sprints directly from the Backlog by entering start and end dates, without setting up planning calendar entries first. * **[Create a Planning Interval or Sprint from EAP Backlog](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/gcjbyf4pcJX9EET2f5tz0Q)** Create iterations of Planning Intervals (PI) and Sprints so that teams can start prioritizing and scheduling their work from the Backlog in Enterprise Agile Planning (EAP). * **[Update iteration details in EAP](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/roTQ1xR8pH3SzHv9lJIn4A)** Edit details of a PI or a Sprint to update details such as name, team capacity, committed points. * **[Create work items for teams in EAP Backlog](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/~04WGm7eFzU9oWJsR48B_w)** Create stories, features, epics, or capabilities for teams to add work to their backlog in Enterprise Agile Planning. * **[Breakdown work from parent work item into child items in EAP](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/eype6DgH7AqqAWnGVkVfrA)** Streamline breaking down work by creating child work items directly from the parent record page in Enterprise Agile Planning workspace. * **[Create stories for work items in EAP](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ugXlPnos28ujneS070Z8vA)** Create stories directly from a work item's form. Create them manually or save time by generating them using Now Assist in the Enterprise Agile Planning (EAP) workspace. * **[Assess the status of an epic using ServiceNow Otto](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/syTO8BrIynKZ4xvtTyWUVg)** Use the Epic status assessment skill to evaluate epic health across six risk dimensions in Enterprise Agile Planning (EAP). ServiceNow Otto returns a red, yellow, or green health status with plain-English reasoning, giving portfolio managers a consolidated view of epic risks. * **[Generate a story from an epic using ServiceNow Otto in EAP](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/lWjQRk1dfP_pyoKwbzBKsA)** Generate a complete user story directly from an epic using Quick story generation feature in EAP. Provide brief context, and ServiceNow Otto generates a story title, description, and acceptance criteria that you can review and edit before saving. * **[Generate multiple stories at once in EAP using ServiceNow Otto](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/FTmryjuHm9rvEuue02VBsw)** Breakdown epics and features into stories using the ServiceNow Otto panel in the Enterprise Agile Planning (EAP) workspace. Based on the work item details, ServiceNow Otto generates stories. * **[Generate acceptance criteria for EAP stories using ServiceNow Otto](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/1820cfWwxcW80B5LnH8fmg)** Create clear, comprehensive, and testable acceptance criteria for user stories without writing them manually in Enterprise Agile Planning (EAP). Review and refine suggested options to ensure they meet your requirements. * **[Create a copy of work items in EAP Backlog](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/llmWJTnCjFEsEHejld~yyg)** For creating work items with details similar to an existing item, save time and effort by creating a copy of the existing item. * **[Schedule work items into iterations in EAP Backlog](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/f4Ej5lwRGsW6FSVXgAqAbg)** Perform backlog grooming and schedule work from the team's backlog for the upcoming iteration Enterprise Agile Planning. * **[Start or complete iterations in EAP](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Nu09BnEqpyN_6EFD8IBr8w)** Start an iteration of a Sprint or PI so that your team can start working and tracking progress of work. After your team finishes the assigned work, mark this iteration as complete, directly from the Backlog in Enterprise Agile Planning. * **[Add or remove teams from Favorites in EAP](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/RGpf~7LoC0Fu05Ih5MIO0Q)** Add the EAP teams that you frequently work with to Favorites so that you can save time navigating to them in the workspace without searching for them. * **[Personalize and filter data in EAP Backlog](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/TBrvnU9AZAn8zqF2LlUVBw)** View the information that is most relevant to you and your team on the Backlog tab by choosing the columns to be displayed. You can also apply filters to narrow down the data on the page.