Prioritized Program or Portfolio Backlog Review Meetings

At the program or portfolio tier, each project in the program or each program in the portfolio sends a delegate. To keep the session efficient, limit attendance to a single representative from each project or program.

Key Points

  • Conducted at the program or portfolio level to review and rank backlog items across projects or programs.
  • Attendance is streamlined: one representative per project or program to enable fast decision-making.
  • Decisions consider strategic alignment, value, dependencies, risks, and capacity constraints.
  • Outputs include an updated prioritized backlog, sequencing decisions, and actions to manage cross-team dependencies.

Example

A portfolio has three programs delivering digital products. For the monthly backlog review, each program sends one representative. Together with the portfolio lead, they assess proposed epics, resolve sequencing conflicts, and produce a single prioritized portfolio backlog for the next quarter.

PMP Example Question

To streamline a portfolio backlog review, which attendee list best fits good practice?

  1. All Scrum Masters from each delivery team
  2. One representative from each program plus key portfolio stakeholders
  3. Every project manager and product owner across the organization
  4. Only the portfolio manager

Correct Answer: B — One representative from each program with necessary stakeholders

Explanation: These meetings operate at the program or portfolio level and are kept efficient by limiting attendance to a single delegate from each project or program while involving essential decision-makers.

Leadership for Project Managers Course

Lead with clarity, confidence, and real impact. This Leadership for Project Managers course turns day-to-day challenges—unclear priorities, tough stakeholders, and cross-functional friction—into opportunities to guide teams and deliver outcomes that matter.

You’ll learn practical leadership skills tailored to project realities: setting direction without overcontrol, creating alignment across functions, and building commitment even when authority is limited. We go beyond theory with tools you can use immediately—one-sentence visioning, stakeholder influence maps, decision framing, and feedback scripts that actually land.

Expect hands-on frameworks, real-world examples, and guided practice to prepare for tough moments—executive readouts, resistance from stakeholders, and high-stakes negotiations. Downloadable templates and checklists keep everything actionable when the pace gets intense.

Ready to influence without waiting for a bigger title? Join a community of ambitious PMs, sharpen your edge, and deliver with purpose—project after project.



Launch your career!

HK School of Management provides world-class training in Project Management, Lean Six Sigma, and Agile Methodologies. Just for the price of a lunch you can transform your career, and reach new heights. With 30 days money-back guarantee, there is no risk.

Learn More