Understanding the MoSCoW Method for Prioritizing Dev Requirements

It's obvious that you need an organizational strategy.

Development and product management teams frequently turn to the MoSCoW method to lay out plans for achieving a specific goal, such as creating a software program or app. "It all starts with having a clear North Star or MVP goal — and a solid understanding of your go-to-market (GTM)," Andy Powell, COO of OAKs Lab. "Without that, prioritization becomes totally opinion-based, which makes it hard to make consistent decisions."

Essentially, having no plan at all is a recipe for failure. By introducing an organizational strategy like the MoSCoW method, development teams can define project parameters early and avoid time drains that delay a product release. 

What Is the MoSCoW Method?

The MoSCoW method is a prioritization technique and planning system used to define, manage, and organize project requirements. It's frequently used by agile development and project management teams to lay out a product roadmap.

The MoSCoW acronym consists of four components:

1. Must Have
2. Should Have
3. Could Have
4. Won't Have

Teams categorize initiatives to clarify a product's target requirements. This helps developers focus on what truly matters in the final product outcome.

Proponents of the MoSCoW framework attribute its beginnings to Dai Clegg, a former Oracle software developer. He created the method to help his team prioritize tasks while working on upcoming product releases.

Companies that use the MoSCoW method establish their objectives before initiating work on a project. They appoint stakeholders to discuss and define goals while also determining a plan for mitigating any disputes. After finalizing the roadmap, they appoint team members to work on tasks in each category.

The four components of MoSCoW prioritization follow these general guidelines:

Must Have

Features in the Must Have category are essential to the final product. If it's released without even one of them, a business may consider the product a failure or completely unusable. Elements that fit into the Must Have category include:

• Regulatory and legal: Without the feature, the product breaks laws or regulations
• Safety: Without the feature, the product isn't secure
• Solution: Without the feature, the product doesn't achieve its purpose
• Use: Without the feature, the product won't work

Items in the Must Have segment are non-negotiables that the team must deliver. There are no ifs, ands, or buts — everything listed is mandatory.

Should Have

Should Have elements are key to the project, but not mandatory. The product will still work if they're omitted. However, Should Have features may add significant value to the outcome, so working toward them remains a major goal. Examples of Should Have elements include increased functionality, performance enhancements, and bug fixes.

Developers work to include Should Have elements by the deadline, but they have flexibility. The business can still release the product without them and introduce them later through an update.

Could Have

Items in the Could Have category are desirable but certainly not mandatory. The product doesn't need them to function, and they rank lower on the scale of importance than other elements.

Could Have features can be introduced in a future product iteration and receive much less attention during the initial development process. If a project hits a deadline roadblock, teams may drop Could Have elements entirely to focus on ones that have greater priority. Sometimes, a Could Have feature may be too expensive to include in the initial stages, so developers cut it to stay within the project's budget.

Won’t Have (This Time)

The final category lists requirements deemed superfluous or irrelevant by stakeholders. These items play a limited role in achieving the product's goal. If teams were to focus on them during the development process, it could be detrimental to accomplishing other, higher-priority goals.

A Won't Have feature isn't worthless — it's just not necessary for the current project. Listing them helps avoid scope creep. Developers may prioritize Won't Have items in future iterations.

MoSCoW Method Example

Assume you're designing a new online shopping app. Using MoSCoW prioritization, your delivery requirements may include:

Notice that the Must Haves relate to the app's functionality. Failing to include one may prevent it from working properly or complying with legal regulations. The other categories include essentials that users expect from a shopping app, but developers can introduce later.

How to Apply the MoSCoW Method in Development Projects

Implementing MoSCoW prioritization starts with a clear understanding of a project's requirements. This requires a frank discussion with all involved stakeholders so everyone affected by the final project has a chance to provide their input.

Teams begin by listing a project's desirable elements. The initial goal is learning what features stakeholders expect (or want) a deliverable to include. After formulating a list, they categorize each element as Must Have, Should Have, Could Have, or Won't Have.

The first list usually isn't set in stone. Stakeholders may disagree on the categorization of specific elements. They iron out any differences through negotiation before settling on a final roadmap and distributing it to the developers.

From there, management assigns team members to work on each element. A large proportion of developers work on the Must Have elements, while smaller groups focus on Should Have and Could Have features. Teams ignore the Won't Have features during the development process.

Managers may reassign developers from one responsibility to another if the project encounters delays. For example, if a Must Have feature requires more resources, stakeholders may move developers working on other, less-important elements.

The ultimate goal of MoSCoW is to deliver a working product that contains all of the Must Have elements, and hopefully most of the Should Haves, while sticking to time and budget restraints.

Benefits of Using the MoSCoW Method

The MoSCoW method has a lot going for it, which is why many companies use it in their product development cycle. What makes it stand out as an optimal project management system? Advantages include:

1. Clear prioritization and decision making
2. Improved resource allocation
3. Enhanced stakeholder communication & expectation management

Clear Prioritization and Decision-Making

Working on a new product is a little like writing a story: it's easy to get bogged down in unnecessary details. Well-meaning developers may focus on perfecting minor features that have little to no impact on the final product. The result is wasted time and potential delays.

Using MoSCoW, teams define the must-haves in advance. Developers know the priorities, and they focus their efforts on meeting them. The biggest decisions are made in advance, leaving less room for ambiguity. 

Improved Resource Allocation

Product development teams use the MoSCoW roadmap to plan their resources effectively. The majority of the team works on Must Have elements, while a smaller proportion collaborates on the Should Have and Could Have components. It's easier to redirect resources if the need arises since managers know which team members are working on the least impactful parts of the product.

Similarly, teams can direct the majority of the budget to achieving Must Have goals. This way, the final project is less likely to exceed financial constraints.

Enhanced Stakeholder Communication and Expectation Management

Big projects frequently have a number of stakeholders. With so many people involved, it's normal to encounter differences of opinion on what the final product should include. MoSCoW prioritization encourages stakeholders to define expectations at the very beginning of the project.

Challenges and Limitations of the MoSCoW Method

Despite its advantages, the MoSCoW method is not perfect. Before selecting it as a product development framework, you should be aware of its drawbacks:

1. Potential subjectivity in category assignment
2. Overuse of ‘must have’ diluting prioritization
3. Need for discipline & stakeholder buy-in

Potential Subjectivity in Category Assignment

Stakeholders may favor elements that benefit them to the detriment of the entire project. As a result, superfluous features may move to higher priority levels when they're ultimately unnecessary in the current project life cycle. Verify all stakeholders have a thorough understanding of resource constraints and the final objective to avoid improper categorization. Using a weighted scoring system helps.

Overuse of "Must Have" Diluting Prioritization

Teams sometimes fall into the trap of assigning too many elements to the Must Have category. This can delay projects and lead to unnecessary confusion. When prioritizing projects, stakeholders should keep in mind their available resources and evenly distribute features across the different categories.

Need for Discipline and Stakeholder Buy-In

Confirm that all relevant stakeholders play a role in assigning categories. Accidentally leaving someone out may result in the need to shift priorities during the development process.  

MoSCoW Method vs. Other Prioritization Techniques

The MoSCoW method isn't the only game in town. Other techniques offer similar benefits using different structures.

• RICE Scoring Model: Prioritizes requirements by Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort, making it useful in general business settings and product development
• Kano Model: Itemizes features by customer satisfaction and resource availability, and is beneficial for existing product updates
• Value vs. Effort: Prioritizes initiatives by value return and investment cost, making it convenient for initial product development and future iterations

Ultimately, the optimal prioritization model for your project depends on its objectives. "Once you have alignment on the end goal and how you want to get there, it's about picking the right framework: we've used RICE for bigger, more complex projects with something in production, but for V1s or greenfield MVPs, MoSCoW remains undefeated for its simplicity and focus," Powell says.

MoSCoW Method Best Practices When Prioritizing Features

All products begin with an idea, but successful ones use careful planning to get from the conception stage to a release. Without a plan, development teams may spend unnecessary time spinning their wheels on tasks and features that have little impact on the project's core objectives.

To get the most from a prioritization framework, implement these proven strategies:

1. Regular reviews of priorities
2. Clear criteria for classification
3. Balanced stakeholder involvement

Regular Reviews of Priorities

Project prioritization works best when stakeholders establish milestones during the development process. When a project meets a specific milestone, teams can meet to review the framework and discuss any relevant, necessary changes.

"We conduct regular technical feasibility reviews where senior developers evaluate requirements against architectural constraints and technical debt implications," explains Vishal Bhatia, CEO and founder of Dedicated Developers. "We prioritize requirements that enable continuous integration and delivery practices, allowing for incremental value delivery while maintaining system stability and performance."

This approach allows teams to regularly assess the project throughout the development process. Ultimately, this helps projects stay on track.

Clear Criteria for Classification

Categorical descriptions, while useful, may invite too much subjectivity into the assigning process. Consider using an objective ranking tool, such as weighted or opportunity scoring, to numerically assign each element to the appropriate category.

“I balance user impact, technical feasibility, and business value using a weighted scoring model," says Akash Shakya, COO of EB Pearls. "Then I validate assumptions through discovery sprints, letting real user feedback guide sequencing.” His approach combines objectivity with real-world results across different milestones, allowing teams to finesse the development process during each sprint.

Balanced Stakeholder Involvement

Don't assume that those closest to the development process have all the answers. Instead, invite other leaders who may be able to spot hidden deficiencies. For example, the sales team could identify where a product falls short of meeting client expectations. Other product managers may suggest ways to shorten feature development timelines. Getting input from multiple departments can help teams avoid unforeseen roadblocks and maintain focus on the product's final objective.

The MoSCoW Method: A Customizable, Must-Have Prioritization Technique  

Managing product development priorities is key to a successful outcome. Without a clearly defined roadmap, there's a risk that a project may miss deadlines, overrun budget constraints, or fall short of expectations. The MoSCoW method is a tried-and-true project management system used by businesses to identify critical requirements and avoid scope creep.

MoSCoW neatly places each product feature into buckets, with Must Haves taking first priority. The process sets defined expectations for developers to meet. It also provides stakeholders with a framework to negotiate key elements before the project begins, which may prevent later disagreements that derail progress.

Businesses seeking to optimize the development process may benefit from the MoSCoW method, particularly for initial versions of a new product. To make the most of the technique, customize it to your workflow and use an objective method to categorize key features. 

About the Author

Hannah Hicklen Content Marketing Manager at Clutch

Hannah Hicklen is a content marketing manager who focuses on creating newsworthy content around tech services, such as software and web development, AI, and cybersecurity. With a background in SEO and editorial content, she now specializes in creating multi-channel marketing strategies that drive engagement, build brand authority, and generate high-quality leads. Hannah leverages data-driven insights and industry trends to craft compelling narratives that resonate with technical and non-technical audiences alike. 

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