What do you do when the backlog is already full, and a new request comes from a stakeholder?

When the backlog is already full and a new request from a stakeholder appears, it is important to prioritize correctly and manage expectations:

1. Assessing importance and urgency — clarify with the stakeholder how critical the new task is and which business goals it supports.
2. Revisiting priorities — consider reviewing current backlog tasks and replacing less important ones with the new, more valuable task.
3. Discussion with the team and stakeholders — explain resource limitations and deadlines, and agree on compromises.
4. Release planning — if the task is not critical, include it in the next release or in a separate sprint.
5. Documenting decisions — record changes in the backlog and reasons to maintain transparency.

This approach helps balance flexibility and control over the development process.