## What Alternatives Can Product Owners Offer When Saying No? They can suggest adding the request to the backlog or propose a future timeline, demonstrating care while staying focused on priorities. ## Works Consulted 1. [000267 Battling the Bloated Product Backlog](https://www.scrum.org/resources/blog/battling-bloated-product-backlog) | Scrum.org | Accessed 25 Jul. 2025. ## Connections follows:: [[4.1 Product Owners Safeguard Value Delivery by Saying No]] topics:: [[Saying No]], [[Product Backlog]] contra | [[3.2a Adding Backlog Items to Avoid Conflict Erodes Trust]] -> Adding items to the backlog just to avoid saying a firm no is an anti-pattern. Be intentional—only add items if they genuinely align with a future product goal or are likely to be tackled in the near term. If you’re adding them solely to sidestep the discomfort of saying no, pause and reconsider. ![[Footer]]