You deal with dozens of activities daily, and each task consumes a significant amount of your time. Dealing with all the responsibilities at once would be a bad idea; you need discipline and order to remain on top of your game.
As an agile professional, you must apply the same level of discipline to your job. One method is prioritizing your duties, but how do you achieve that? The MoSCoW approach is a prioritization strategy that assists you in organizing your activities in the priority order.
In this blog, we will go over the fundamentals of the MoSCoW method and how it works.
What is the MoSCoW method?
The MoSCoW method is a strategy businesses use to express the relevance and priority of specific project demands. This technique is also known as MoSCoW prioritizing and MoSCoW analysis.
The abbreviation MoSCoW refers to the initial letter of each of the four priority categories. It divides items into four categories: must-have, should-want, could-have, and will not have. While it is intended to be utilized at the outset of a project when time is on your side, it can also be customized to operate smoothly when time is limited.
Dai Clegg, a software development professional, created the MoSCoW method for project management. Clegg created the Rapid Application Development process in 1994 while working at Oracle, a worldwide computer technology business.
The approach was first created to prioritize tasks and time-box them accordingly. It rose to prominence in the early 2000s and was adopted by the agile project delivery framework Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) in 2002.
Currently, the strategy is utilized in project management to prioritize work and achieve targets without gaps. This is especially beneficial for managers who supervise many projects or lead cross-functional teams. Typically, cross-functional teams are bound by the needs of another company or department.
What are MoSCow Prioritization Categories?
All parties must agree on which activities will be prioritized before the MoSCoW analysis can begin. It is critical to address how to handle differences to avoid them impeding progress at this stage of preparation. This can assist in avoiding problems from occurring in the first place.
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After establishing the framework, it is time to define the suitable categories for each project. Each of the MoSCoW prioritizing categories is defined and explained below:
#1. Must have
Musts are efforts that are important to a project’s or product’s success. These are often non-negotiable terms that can be used to define certain features or solutions that must be implemented.
The’must have’ category is difficult to define. Before you begin, consider if anything is genuinely required for this category.
#2. Should have
Although ‘should have’ initiatives aren’t required for a product or project, they can add much value. A ‘should have’ initiative differs from a ‘must have’ initiative in that it can be planned for a later release.
#3. Could have
‘Could haves’ are efforts that are not required for the basic functionality of a product. When another project takes longer than planned, projects in the ‘could have’ category are generally the first to be deprioritized.
#4. Will not have
Several projects are classified as “will not have” using the MoSCoW technique. This strategy enables you to manage expectations over what will and will not be included in a release or another period.
Placing initiatives in the “won’t have” category can prevent scope creep. This category informs the team that the project is not a priority now.
Some efforts are emphasized in the “won’t have” category, while others are more likely to occur in the future. Some teams then elect to separate these projects into their category.
How can MoSCoW method be utilized in project management?
The MoSCoW method enables project managers to prioritize activities that can be completed effectively, even when time is short. If the team, for example, has a limited budget, it can utilize MoSCoW to identify which activities can be accomplished within those constraints.
This is particularly helpful for managers who oversee many projects or lead cross-functional teams. This is because the priorities of another organization or department frequently bind cross-functional teams. While your team is working on a new product release, another project manager might well be putting them under pressure to meet another client’s deadline.
And, as we all know, issues arise during the course of a project. Although effective preparation assists teams in staying flexible, the MoSCoW technique can make even the most difficult and unanticipated obstacles more manageable.
Pros And Cons of MoSCoW Method
Have a look at the advantages of MosCow technique:
- Assists in outlining a project’s priorities.
- Simple and straightforward.
- It can be utilized for current projects as well as future initiatives.
- Brings stakeholders and team members together.
- Removes the possibility of partiality or favoritism.
- Teams can classify needs based on their abilities and preferences.
The cons of the MoSCoW technique include the following:
- The Won’t-have category is confusing since it is unclear whether or not the items in this category will be utilized.
- There is no clear way to determine which approaches should be prioritized within a category.
- The ultimate order can be more subjective and inefficient if critical decision-makers are removed from the process.
- All team members participating in the process must be acquainted with the procedure.
Tips For Using MoSCoW Method Prioritization
Before you begin the real prioritizing process, we’d like to provide a few pointers to ensure that everything goes well and without hiccups:
- Ensure that stakeholders and key team members are included in the decision-making process.
- Disagreements are unavoidable; plan how to address and resolve them ahead of time. You will save your time as well as the time of the other members.
- The most important thing is prioritizing work, but allocating resources is equally important. Ensure that the appropriate resources are assigned to the tasks and that the budget is established ahead of time.
- Establish deadlines for each job within a category to ensure all tasks are completed on time.
- To ensure that you cover everything in the decision-making process, establish a list of all the things or needs that need to be prioritized.
Wrapping It Up
The MoSCoW method is useful for streamlining your workflow and improving your concentration. Using the method in the early phases of a project can ensure that it runs successfully.
You can consider using Google Slides templates by SlideUpLift to conduct MoSCow prioritization for your next projects!
