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Find the work items nobody is looking after
For project managers who want unowned and neglected Azure DevOps work items surfaced by area, just by asking their AI assistant.
On this page
Connector
Connect Azure DevOps, pick your AI tool and paste the prompt.
The problem
Backlogs fill with work nobody is looking after
Backlogs fill with items nobody owns, items nobody has touched in months and priority 1 items that have stalled. Reviewing them means filtering the board several ways, so the review rarely happens.
Without PopdockAI
- Filter the board for unassigned items
- Sort again by last change date
- Search for neglected priority 1 items
- Skip the review because it takes too long
With PopdockAI
- Open work items and their last change dates are read
- Unassigned, untouched and neglected priority 1 items are flagged
- Findings are grouped by area for each team
- Nothing is reassigned or closed, and capped results are noted
The prompt
Use this prompt
Copy it into any AI tool connected to PopdockAI. Swap the values in braces for your own.
**Objective:** Audit open work items in `{project}` and list those that are stale (no change for `{stale-days}` days, default 30), unassigned, or priority 1 without recent movement.
**Step 1: Read open work**
Call `azure-devops-get-work-item` with project `{project}` once per open state (for example New, Active, To Do, In Progress) and with priority 1 separately. Use `azure-devops-get-work-item-type` first if the state names are unclear.
**Step 2: Apply the rules**
Flag an item when changed-date is older than the threshold, when assigned-to is empty, or when priority is 1 and changed-date is older than 7 days. Group results by area-path.
**Step 3: Report**
Counts per rule and per area-path, then the top 20 worst offenders (id, title, type, state, assigned-to, days since change) and a short recommendation per area-path owner.
**Rules & Guidelines:**
* This prompt is read-only. Call only the `azure-devops-get-*` read tools named above; never create, update, comment on, approve, queue, abort or delete anything in Azure DevOps.
* The tools only return data the connected account can see; never infer data from projects outside that access.
* Do not reassign, close or edit items; list recommendations only.
**Validation:**
* If nothing is flagged, say the backlog is clean and give the counts.
* Say when results were capped by max-records.
Who it's for
One answer, three teams that use it
Project managers
Run backlog reviews from a list
Stale and unowned work grouped by area gives your review a ready agenda.
Audit stale work items in the Fabrikam Mobile project, using 45 days as stale.
Engineering managers
Catch stalled priority 1 work
Neglected priority 1 items are flagged, so urgent work does not quietly stall.
Which priority 1 work items in Contoso Platform have not changed in 30 days?
Product owners
Give every item an owner
Unassigned items in your area are listed, so you can assign or close them.
List unassigned work items in the Checkout area of Northwind Commerce.
How it works
What PopdockAI does when you ask
You name a project and how long counts as stale, and your AI assistant audits the backlog. It only reports and changes no work item.
01
Ask
You name the project and how long counts as stale.
02
Read
It reads the open work items and their last change dates.
03
Flag
It marks unassigned, untouched and neglected priority 1 items.
04
Report
You get the findings grouped by area, with a note if results were capped.
What PopdockAI provides
The tools behind the answer
Ready made tools for Azure DevOps and one secure connection to your AI tool. No code, no exports.
azure-devops-get-work-item
azure-devops-get-work-item-type
This report is built from Get data tools only. PopdockAI applies the row, field and parameter rules your admin sets, and every query is written to the audit trail.
The outcome
A backlog review with a list to act on
Related use cases
More ways to put this data to work
One prompt template with infinite possibilities.
Your AI assistant adapts its approach, tone, and capabilities to match each unique context while you maintain a single, manageable workflow.
Join forward-thinking companies that are transforming their operations with intelligent, secure AI automation.

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