MoSCoW is a prioritization framework that can be used to get team alignment efficiently for products or projects already shaped up. - Key principle of the MoSCoW method (Must Have, Should Have, Could Have, Won’t have) - How to run a MoSCoW prioritization session - Why MoSCoW is a great tool to get alignment within the team - Example of using MoSCoW

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MoSCoW Prioritization Method
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6. MoSCoW Prioritization
Method
Benoît des Ligneris, Ph. D.
Sr. Product Manager, Shopify
#ProductTankOttawa

7. MoSCOW
Prioritization Method
How to create better and faster team and
stakeholder alignment
Benoît des Ligneris, Ph. D.
Senior PM @Shopify

8. Why prioritize?

9. ● Lack of trust
● Passive-aggressive
● Inefficient & unclear
● No healthy conflict
● Low risk-taking
● Low commitment
● No personal
responsibility or
accountability
● Unclear agreements
Unaligned team(s):

10. ● Trust
● Open
● Efficient
● Healthy conflict
● High risk-taking
● High commitment
● Personal responsibility
and accountability
● Clear agreements
Aligned team(s):

11. 1. Communicate to stakeholders
2. Communicate to the organization
3. How to say no with empathy
Three additional key benefits

12. Which method to choose?

13. Multiple possibilities
Narrow Scope
Broad Scope
Complex Simple
Scorecard
(RICE…)
Why, Who
What, How
MoSCoW

14. MoSCoW

15. MoSCoW

16. ● Required for the release to have the expected outcomes
● Skeleton
● Proven value
● Vital element
● Prerequisite
MUST is also an acronym for Minimal Usable SubseT.
Must-Have

17. ● Impact
● Not indispensable
● Good candidate for the next dev cycle
Should-Have

18. ● Desirable
● Lack of data / certainty ?
● Missing dependencies (have to wait)
Could-Have

19. ● Not in this release/cycle
● Document the “No” as … “Not Yet”
● Focus on the current cycle
Won’t-Have

20. How to run a MoSCoW
meeting?

21. 1. Review the existing document (brief, press-release, etc.)
2. Invite the team:
a. core-team members
b. passionate stakeholders
c. subject experts
3. Book 1h
4. Decide on an approach
Preparation

22. Weak
alignment

23. Strong
alignment

24. Tips & Tricks
Conclusion

25. 1. 10 minutes before the end: the quadrant walk-through
2. If not complete:
a. Book another meeting
b. Re-start with all the agreed upon decisions and
check if everyone is still OK
c. Continue the process
Tips & Tricks

26. ● [ ] Todo (agreed upon by the team and in the Must-Have quadrant)
● - Team is aligned and this requirement is in the correct quadrant
● ? To be discussed (not agreed upon but captured during discussions or any
social interaction)
● 🐽 Team disagreement / May need further discussions or stakeholder
input
● ☑ Done — This requirement has shipped
Keep the document live and
up to date

27. Google
doc /
template

28. 1. Simple to use prioritization method
2. Perfect for pre-scoped products/features
3. Visual representation of the decisions on one page
4. Keep it live & start a new prioritization session once your
Must-Have are 80% done
Reference: How to run a MoSCoW prioritization session
Conclusion