Täidetakseneed

Täidetakseneed is a neologism used in Estonian-language discussions of workflow and project management. It denotes the set of tasks that are waiting to be completed because they require additional data, inputs, or approvals before they can proceed. The term blends täidetakse (to be filled / is being filled) with need (these), conveying the sense of these to be filled. It is not widely established in formal literature and is mainly found in blogs, training materials, and online forums concerned with task queues, Kanban boards, and process automation.

In practice, täidetakseneed are typically treated as a distinct state within a task-tracking system or as a subset of the backlog. They differ from ready-to-work items by the presence of missing prerequisites, such as a required field, a pending sign-off, or an incomplete data payload. The concept helps teams focus attention on bottlenecks where inputs are not yet supplied.

Teams may monitor täidetakseneed as a precursor to work-in-progress, using workflow rules or automation to remind owners or to prevent progression until the prerequisites are satisfied. Metrics around täidetakseneed can include average time in this state, rate of prerequisite completion, and the conversion rate to active work.

Example: On a software development board, tickets classified as täidetakseneed remain in a gated column until the required specifications, attachments, and approvals are provided.

Notes: The term is relatively niche and not universally used; its exact interpretation can vary between organizations.

See also: backlog, work in progress, Kanban, dependency.