Backlog Net Growth Trajectory

A backlog that consistently grows faster than it is resolved is accumulating technical and delivery debt. A backlog that is shrinking — where more issues are resolved than created each week — indicates a team actively clearing its commitments. This visual tracks the weekly net change and cumulative trajectory so you can see the long-term direction of each project's backlog.

What you can conclude

• A project with a consistently positive net growth (more arriving than resolving) needs either scope control or capacity increase — the current pace is unsustainable.
• A project with negative net growth (resolving faster than arriving) is in a healthy debt-clearing phase.
• A project whose cumulative backlog is growing despite occasional good weeks has a structural imbalance that intermittent effort cannot fix.

How this chart works

Area chart showing weekly net backlog change (new issues minus resolved issues) per project, with a cumulative running total line. Use the date and project filters to focus on specific teams or periods.