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MoSCoW Prioritization

What is moscow prioritization.

MoSCoW prioritization, also known as the MoSCoW method or MoSCoW analysis, is a popular prioritization technique for managing requirements. 

  The acronym MoSCoW represents four categories of initiatives: must-have, should-have, could-have, and won’t-have, or will not have right now. Some companies also use the “W” in MoSCoW to mean “wish.”

What is the History of the MoSCoW Method?

Software development expert Dai Clegg created the MoSCoW method while working at Oracle. He designed the framework to help his team prioritize tasks during development work on product releases.

You can find a detailed account of using MoSCoW prioritization in the Dynamic System Development Method (DSDM) handbook . But because MoSCoW can prioritize tasks within any time-boxed project, teams have adapted the method for a broad range of uses.

How Does MoSCoW Prioritization Work?

Before running a MoSCoW analysis, a few things need to happen. First, key stakeholders and the product team need to get aligned on objectives and prioritization factors. Then, all participants must agree on which initiatives to prioritize.

At this point, your team should also discuss how they will settle any disagreements in prioritization. If you can establish how to resolve disputes before they come up, you can help prevent those disagreements from holding up progress.

Finally, you’ll also want to reach a consensus on what percentage of resources you’d like to allocate to each category.

With the groundwork complete, you may begin determining which category is most appropriate for each initiative. But, first, let’s further break down each category in the MoSCoW method.

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Moscow prioritization categories.

1. Must-have initiatives

As the name suggests, this category consists of initiatives that are “musts” for your team. They represent non-negotiable needs for the project, product, or release in question. For example, if you’re releasing a healthcare application, a must-have initiative may be security functionalities that help maintain compliance.

The “must-have” category requires the team to complete a mandatory task. If you’re unsure about whether something belongs in this category, ask yourself the following.

If the product won’t work without an initiative, or the release becomes useless without it, the initiative is most likely a “must-have.”

2. Should-have initiatives

Should-have initiatives are just a step below must-haves. They are essential to the product, project, or release, but they are not vital. If left out, the product or project still functions. However, the initiatives may add significant value.

“Should-have” initiatives are different from “must-have” initiatives in that they can get scheduled for a future release without impacting the current one. For example, performance improvements, minor bug fixes, or new functionality may be “should-have” initiatives. Without them, the product still works.

3. Could-have initiatives

Another way of describing “could-have” initiatives is nice-to-haves. “Could-have” initiatives are not necessary to the core function of the product. However, compared with “should-have” initiatives, they have a much smaller impact on the outcome if left out.

So, initiatives placed in the “could-have” category are often the first to be deprioritized if a project in the “should-have” or “must-have” category ends up larger than expected.

4. Will not have (this time)

One benefit of the MoSCoW method is that it places several initiatives in the “will-not-have” category. The category can manage expectations about what the team will not include in a specific release (or another timeframe you’re prioritizing).

Placing initiatives in the “will-not-have” category is one way to help prevent scope creep . If initiatives are in this category, the team knows they are not a priority for this specific time frame. 

Some initiatives in the “will-not-have” group will be prioritized in the future, while others are not likely to happen. Some teams decide to differentiate between those by creating a subcategory within this group.

How Can Development Teams Use MoSCoW?

  Although Dai Clegg developed the approach to help prioritize tasks around his team’s limited time, the MoSCoW method also works when a development team faces limitations other than time. For example: 

Prioritize based on budgetary constraints.

What if a development team’s limiting factor is not a deadline but a tight budget imposed by the company? Working with the product managers, the team can use MoSCoW first to decide on the initiatives that represent must-haves and the should-haves. Then, using the development department’s budget as the guide, the team can figure out which items they can complete. 

Prioritize based on the team’s skillsets.

A cross-functional product team might also find itself constrained by the experience and expertise of its developers. If the product roadmap calls for functionality the team does not have the skills to build, this limiting factor will play into scoring those items in their MoSCoW analysis.

Prioritize based on competing needs at the company.

Cross-functional teams can also find themselves constrained by other company priorities. The team wants to make progress on a new product release, but the executive staff has created tight deadlines for further releases in the same timeframe. In this case, the team can use MoSCoW to determine which aspects of their desired release represent must-haves and temporarily backlog everything else.

What Are the Drawbacks of MoSCoW Prioritization?

  Although many product and development teams have prioritized MoSCoW, the approach has potential pitfalls. Here are a few examples.

1. An inconsistent scoring process can lead to tasks placed in the wrong categories.

  One common criticism against MoSCoW is that it does not include an objective methodology for ranking initiatives against each other. Your team will need to bring this methodology to your analysis. The MoSCoW approach works only to ensure that your team applies a consistent scoring system for all initiatives.

Pro tip: One proven method is weighted scoring, where your team measures each initiative on your backlog against a standard set of cost and benefit criteria. You can use the weighted scoring approach in ProductPlan’s roadmap app .

2. Not including all relevant stakeholders can lead to items placed in the wrong categories.

To know which of your team’s initiatives represent must-haves for your product and which are merely should-haves, you will need as much context as possible.

For example, you might need someone from your sales team to let you know how important (or unimportant) prospective buyers view a proposed new feature.

One pitfall of the MoSCoW method is that you could make poor decisions about where to slot each initiative unless your team receives input from all relevant stakeholders. 

3. Team bias for (or against) initiatives can undermine MoSCoW’s effectiveness.

Because MoSCoW does not include an objective scoring method, your team members can fall victim to their own opinions about certain initiatives. 

One risk of using MoSCoW prioritization is that a team can mistakenly think MoSCoW itself represents an objective way of measuring the items on their list. They discuss an initiative, agree that it is a “should have,” and move on to the next.

But your team will also need an objective and consistent framework for ranking all initiatives. That is the only way to minimize your team’s biases in favor of items or against them.

When Do You Use the MoSCoW Method for Prioritization?

MoSCoW prioritization is effective for teams that want to include representatives from the whole organization in their process. You can capture a broader perspective by involving participants from various functional departments.

Another reason you may want to use MoSCoW prioritization is it allows your team to determine how much effort goes into each category. Therefore, you can ensure you’re delivering a good variety of initiatives in each release.

What Are Best Practices for Using MoSCoW Prioritization?

If you’re considering giving MoSCoW prioritization a try, here are a few steps to keep in mind. Incorporating these into your process will help your team gain more value from the MoSCoW method.

1. Choose an objective ranking or scoring system.

Remember, MoSCoW helps your team group items into the appropriate buckets—from must-have items down to your longer-term wish list. But MoSCoW itself doesn’t help you determine which item belongs in which category.

You will need a separate ranking methodology. You can choose from many, such as:

• Weighted scoring
• Value vs. complexity
• Buy-a-feature
• Opportunity scoring

For help finding the best scoring methodology for your team, check out ProductPlan’s article: 7 strategies to choose the best features for your product .

2. Seek input from all key stakeholders.

To make sure you’re placing each initiative into the right bucket—must-have, should-have, could-have, or won’t-have—your team needs context. 

At the beginning of your MoSCoW method, your team should consider which stakeholders can provide valuable context and insights. Sales? Customer success? The executive staff? Product managers in another area of your business? Include them in your initiative scoring process if you think they can help you see opportunities or threats your team might miss. 

3. Share your MoSCoW process across your organization.

MoSCoW gives your team a tangible way to show your organization prioritizing initiatives for your products or projects. 

The method can help you build company-wide consensus for your work, or at least help you show stakeholders why you made the decisions you did.

Communicating your team’s prioritization strategy also helps you set expectations across the business. When they see your methodology for choosing one initiative over another, stakeholders in other departments will understand that your team has thought through and weighed all decisions you’ve made. 

If any stakeholders have an issue with one of your decisions, they will understand that they can’t simply complain—they’ll need to present you with evidence to alter your course of action.  

Related Terms

2×2 prioritization matrix / Eisenhower matrix / DACI decision-making framework / ICE scoring model / RICE scoring model

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Why i can’t go back to a non-pixel android phone, why i compromise my privacy to maintain my social life.

Multitasking often seems to be the ideal solution to manage your time when you find yourself with a long list of tasks. But the problem with juggling multiple tasks is that you risk ending your workday with a pile of unfinished tasks and a feeling of frustration.

Prioritizing your tasks can help. In this article, we will explore how you can do that using the MoSCoW method.

What Is the MoSCoW Method?

There are a number of tasks you need to complete within a set time frame and budget. However, if those tasks are not organized according to importance, they often become up for grabs, usually not to the benefit of the entire project.

The MoSCoW matrix is a prioritization framework that can help you determine which tasks are essential at any given moment, and structure your to-do list in order of importance.

This way, organizing your tasks can help you and your team members allocate more time, money, and attention to the most important ones before moving down your to-do list.

Origin of the MoSCoW Technique

Dai Clegg, a software development specialist at Oracle UK, invented the MoSCoW method, or the MSCW method, as it was known in 1994 (the two Os were added later to help with pronunciation).

Although Clegg originally developed this prioritization technique for use in Rapid Application Development, it is quite versatile in application. You can use it for market/product launches, starting a new business, or something as mundane as planning a party.

MoSCoW Prioritization Categories

As we have hinted above, the two Os don't have any significance in this acronym besides making it easier to pronounce and memorize. That said, the capital letters in the acronym represent four prioritization categories:

• Should have
• Won't have

Let's dive deeper:

1. Must Have

This category represents the requirements or tasks you must complete to ensure that the entire project is successful. There's no going around them. It contains non-negotiable needs for the desired outcome. Failure to complete these tasks on time can lead to unfavorable consequences.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to know which tasks or requirements belong to this category:

• Will the project work if you do not complete this task?
• Can the project be successful without this requirement?
• Is there a workaround that you can devise to avoid doing this task?

If your answer is no, then this task is the foundation that shapes the entire project. Therefore, it belongs to the must-have category. For example, if you are developing an app, you must ensure that its security is watertight to safeguard users' personal and sensitive information.

2. Should Have

Should-have tasks immediately follow must-haves in terms of priority. They add a lot of value to the entire project and make it more successful when you complete them. But the project can still function if you leave out should-haves. In other words, the completion of these tasks is important but not vital to the project's success.

You can create this category by asking yourself if there is a workaround, or if the project can still move ahead if you don't meet the requirements. For example, you should integrate social media tools into your app, but you can certainly go ahead without them.

3. Could Have

Completing could-haves is important, but they don't add as much value to the project when you compare them with should-haves, and they also cause less harm when you omit them. You can also call them nice-to-haves, provided you can fit them within your budget and time frame.

In order to create this category, take a look at the list of tasks you wish to complete to determine what will have a deep impact (should-haves) and what will add less value (could-haves). For example, you could add the dark mode feature to your app if you can.

4. Won't Have

This category represents the lowest priority of the MoSCoW method, and it contains tasks you should not work on within a particular budget and deadline. The presence or absence of won't-haves has no impact whatsoever on the completion and success of the entire project at this time, but it could in the future on this project, or another one.

Creating this category allows you to harness your focus, and resources on the first three. For example, you can add a new security feature to your app through an update to patch software vulnerabilities.

Why You Should Use the MoSCoW Method

The MoSCoW method is most effective when you want to include your team (or few representatives) and other stakeholders to capture a broader perspective and eliminate the risk of bias.

Additionally, this prioritization technique will help your team know how many resources and effort to dedicate to each category to ensure the whole project's success.

How to Use the MoSCoW Method Using Trello

1. gather team members.

The first step to applying the MoSCoW technique is to gather all the key players who will participate in the project. If you are working on a massive project that involves many people, it might be chaotic to bring everyone around the table. Instead, you can gather a few team leaders or decision-makers in the various departments related to the project.

2. List All the Tasks

Now that you have gathered all the people who will participate in the project, it is time to list all your tasks. Let everyone participate, and write all the ideas without negotiations. You can create a master to-do list in an app like Trello for the tasks.

3. Categorize Your Tasks

Before you start grouping all your tasks in each category, you could allocate financial and time resources for all the steps of the MoSCoW method to ensure that you remain within your limits.

Now you can discuss with your team to assess the importance of each task and put them in their respective categories. Create all the MoSCoW categories on your Trello board, and assign each task accordingly.

You can also drag tasks in each category to organize them, starting with the first task you want to work on. Lastly, you can assign a particular label to each category to add clarity to your Trello board.

Download: Trello for Android | iOS (Free, premium version available)

Improve Your Productivity Using the MoSCoW Method

Arranging all your tasks according to their priorities is a sure way to improve your productivity. You can use the MoSCoW method to ensure that you use your resources on the most relevant tasks to your projects and to foster healthy teamwork in your organization.

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