An Overview of Prioritization Techniques
The Eisenhower Matrix, Kano Model, MOSCOW Method, and RICE Method.
In the realm of product development and project management, making the right decisions on what features to build, improve, or postpone can make a world of difference. In this context, prioritization tools are indispensable. Among the widely-used techniques, the Eisenhower Matrix, Kano Model, MOSCOW, and RICE methods have garnered significant attention. Let's delve into these methods and understand how they help streamline prioritization processes.
Eisenhower Matrix
The Eisenhower Matrix, also known as the Urgent-Important Matrix, helps prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance. It segments tasks into four categories:
Urgent and important (Do): Tasks that must be done immediately.
Important, but not urgent (Decide): Important tasks that aren't time-sensitive.
Urgent, but not important (Delegate): Time-sensitive tasks that can be delegated.
Neither urgent nor important (Delete): Tasks that can be eliminated, as they don't contribute to your goals.
This matrix is excellent for personal time management and also works well in a team or project management context.
Kano Model
The Kano Model classifies customer preferences into five categories:
Must-Be Quality: Basic attributes that customers expect in a product.
One-Dimensional Quality: Features that directly correlate with customer satisfaction.
Attractive Quality: Unexpected features that delight customers when present.
Indifferent Quality: Features that neither satisfy nor dissatisfy customers.
Reverse Quality: Features that customers don't want.
This model is particularly helpful for product teams when deciding which features to build, enhance, or ignore.
MOSCOW Method
The MOSCOW method, used primarily in project management and business analysis, helps prioritize requirements as Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won't have.
Must have: Critical, non-negotiable requirements.
Should have: Important but not critical requirements.
Could have: Desirable but not necessary requirements.
Won't have: Low-priority or low-payoff requirements.
This method provides a clear categorization that all stakeholders can understand and agree on.
RICE Method
The RICE method is a scoring model used for feature prioritization. It stands for Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort.
Reach: How many users a feature will affect in a certain period.
Impact: How much a feature will benefit users.
Confidence: The level of certainty in the reach, impact, and effort estimates.
Effort: The total amount of work required from all team members.
A RICE score is calculated for each feature, with a higher score indicating higher priority. This method allows for an objective comparison of disparate features.
Conclusion
The Eisenhower Matrix, Kano Model, MOSCOW, and RICE methods are distinct yet powerful strategies to address the universal challenge of task and feature prioritization. They offer systematic methods to bring order to the decision-making process, align team members, and ensure focus on tasks that yield the most value. Picking the right tool necessitates understanding your project's unique requirements and selecting the method that most accurately addresses them.
Read more on prioritisation within a project context within another artcle in this series:
