Popular Product Prioritization Frameworks
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 10:04 am
There is no one product prioritization framework that is best for everyone. In fact, depending on the situation, resources, and decisions at hand, there are several frameworks that product development teams use. Here are some key product management prioritization frameworks that can help you on your way.
1. MoSCoW Method
MoSCoW (short for must-have, should-have, could-have, and won't-have) is a simple and easy-to-use prioritization framework. As the name suggests, it helps teams categorize features into:
Mandatory : Functions that are not negotiable and are essential to satisfy user needs.
**Should have: Necessary but not as urgent as essential functions
**It may have essential features that the user can do without.
**It won't have They are not important enough for the team to take them into account
This is a great method if user needs are clear and are the primary consideration when making decisions. The Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), an agile project delivery framework, favors MoSCoW as a prioritization framework.
Advantages and disadvantages
Simple and easy to use Decisions can be arbitrary without data on user needs. MoSCoW is the owner/ partner/ shareholder email list preferred prioritization framework
Clear and customer-focused It's easy to overestimate the number of must-have features
Also suitable for non-technical teams Within each category, it is impossible to establish more priorities.
Advantages and disadvantages of the MoSCoW method
2. RICE scoring model
RICE stands for Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort. RICE Prioritization assigns values to each of these parameters and calculates a combined score based on which the functions are prioritized.
Reach refers to the number of people/users that will be affected by the feature (within a given time frame)
Impact refers to the extent to which users will be affected, often on a scale of 0.25 to 3 (where 3 represents a massive impact)
Confidence refers to the level of certainty in estimates of scope and impact, typically represented as a percentage.
Effort is the amount of work required for the function, usually estimated in person-months.
Once these numbers are available, the RICE score is calculated using the following formula.
RICE Score = (Reach × Impact × Confidence) / Effort
The RICE score represents the potential value to the business of the feature relative to development effort/resources. Features with higher RICE scores are given priority.
1. MoSCoW Method
MoSCoW (short for must-have, should-have, could-have, and won't-have) is a simple and easy-to-use prioritization framework. As the name suggests, it helps teams categorize features into:
Mandatory : Functions that are not negotiable and are essential to satisfy user needs.
**Should have: Necessary but not as urgent as essential functions
**It may have essential features that the user can do without.
**It won't have They are not important enough for the team to take them into account
This is a great method if user needs are clear and are the primary consideration when making decisions. The Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), an agile project delivery framework, favors MoSCoW as a prioritization framework.
Advantages and disadvantages
Simple and easy to use Decisions can be arbitrary without data on user needs. MoSCoW is the owner/ partner/ shareholder email list preferred prioritization framework
Clear and customer-focused It's easy to overestimate the number of must-have features
Also suitable for non-technical teams Within each category, it is impossible to establish more priorities.
Advantages and disadvantages of the MoSCoW method
2. RICE scoring model
RICE stands for Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort. RICE Prioritization assigns values to each of these parameters and calculates a combined score based on which the functions are prioritized.
Reach refers to the number of people/users that will be affected by the feature (within a given time frame)
Impact refers to the extent to which users will be affected, often on a scale of 0.25 to 3 (where 3 represents a massive impact)
Confidence refers to the level of certainty in estimates of scope and impact, typically represented as a percentage.
Effort is the amount of work required for the function, usually estimated in person-months.
Once these numbers are available, the RICE score is calculated using the following formula.
RICE Score = (Reach × Impact × Confidence) / Effort
The RICE score represents the potential value to the business of the feature relative to development effort/resources. Features with higher RICE scores are given priority.