Backlogen

Backlogen is a term in operations research and information management that denotes a state in which the number of unprocessed tasks in a system grows over time because input demand outpaces processing capacity. It is relevant to manufacturing lines, IT service desks, customer support centers, and digital platforms that process user content.

Coined in theoretical literature around 2012 by researchers examining queue dynamics, the word blends backlog with the suffix -gen to suggest a tendency toward backlog under persistent pressure.

Backlogen emerges when arrival rate exceeds service rate and is amplified by variability, batch processing, and taking on tasks out of order. Aging of items increases the risk of delays, quality issues, and lost value.

Common metrics include backlog size, backlog growth rate, aging of the oldest item, and service level. Mitigation strategies include capacity expansion, process improvements, prioritization schemes, demand smoothing, and workflow optimization; early warning indicators and control charts help detect accelerating growth.

Backlogen is related to queueing theory and work-in-progress concepts but emphasizes the dynamic growth of unprocessed work. Some critics argue the term overlaps with existing metrics and should be used cautiously to avoid confusion with standard backlog or lead-time measures.