According to SAFe, how many stories should teams maintain in their backlog?

In the context of SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), teams are recommended to maintain a backlog that includes 2-3 iterations of refined stories. This practice ensures that teams have enough work items prepared and prioritized for their upcoming iterations, allowing for smooth planning and execution.

Maintaining 2-3 iterations of refined stories strikes a balance between having a manageable, actionable set of tasks while also allowing the team to respond to changes in requirements and priorities. It supports effective iteration planning by providing team members with clarity on what work needs to be completed in the near term. This agility is critical in an agile environment where flexibility and responsiveness to changing business needs are essential.

Furthermore, focusing on iterations allows teams to refine their work incrementally. They can continuously adapt their backlog as new information emerges from stakeholder feedback, changing market conditions, or insights gained from previous iterations. This continuous adaptation is a cornerstone of agile methodologies, ensuring that work being done provides maximum value to the organization and its customers.