What is MoSCoW Analysis and MoSCoW Method?

Today we are now going on an adventure. We now have a compass in hand and the north star happens to be… MoSCow Analysis (also known as MoSCoW Prioritization or MoSCoW Method).

Table of Contents

Before Diving into Today’s Exploration…

Dear Reader, Welcome to Project Cubicle. If you are a Returning Project Cubicle Reader, as the Cubicle Team, we’d like to Thank You for your Trust and Support. If this is your first time around here, feel free to look around and like a child, click on everything you see. Believe me when I say we’ve hidden countless gems around here. Our Contributing Writers are simply the best when it comes to diving into the recent trends and techniques. Honestly, we’re super curious about what goes on around us and we can’t keep our hands off that keyboard before we write about it and spread that knowledge!

Oops.. Let me introduce Project Cubicle for the newcomers.

Imagine a Team with the diversity of members from ALL over the World, researching, reading, wanting to know more about the current techniques, hints, and methods used in from Business Field to Education, from Education to Macroeconomy, PMP Training, Behavioral Sciences, Management, Leadership, Motivation, Innovation, The Art of Success, Infamous Case Studies, Technology and so much more!

To sum it up? We love to learn, and then we can’t help but share that knowledge on a post here at Project Cubicle. It’s an adventure to say the least.

“To Create Architecture is to put in order. Put What in order? Function and Objects.”

Le Corbusier

What is MoSCoW Prioritization?

What or which Tasks/Projects should you manage?

MoSCoW Method is a framework to set goals more efficiently. Goal Setting is important, but setting the right goals is crucial in the business area to not lose resources over a task that is less urgent, unnecessary, or even irrelevant. The Method was designed by Software Developer Dai Clegg and his main objective was to solve the problem of wasting time, especially during the development stage of a product’s launch. (i.e., the features of a mobile app)

Below, you see the components of MoSCoW method. Let’s discover what they are together!

First off, MoSCoW Method is about Time Management. It’s about what are you or your organization is going to spend that time on? A day is always 24 hours, an hour is always 60 minutes, and a minute is always going to be 60 seconds. Therefore, having an effective Time Management in your organization or your daily life is Vital.

While performing MoSCoW Analysis, you basically put your objectives through a test.

How much do they, really, matter?

Do they matter enough?

According to the outcome of the final view, you see which tasks/projects/processes you or your organization should prioritize, and which ones are not urgent and may be left out for now or for good.

“We can’t solve problems by Using the Same Kind of Thinking we Used When We Created Them.”

Albert Einstein

MoSCoW Method

MoSCoW Prioritization: Must-Have:

The absolute MUST. There is no way out and there is no shortcut. This step/task/project/task/… has to be done as soon as possible. It’s the utmost priority. If this is a new mobile app, say about selling clothes online, the Must-Have may be having a swiping left/right feature as people habituated themselves to this behavior from the matchmaking applications.

A Task/Project/Feature/… is a must if,

There is no simpler, better way
If it does not function any other way

MoSCoW Prioritization: Should-Have:

Essential but not vital. Tasks/Projects/… do not need to be done as soon as possible, there is still a chance or there is still time. Without it, the operation will be still undisturbed. If this is again that clothing market app, then Should-Have could contain features or characteristics or an improvement in user experience for the upcoming update.

MoSCoW Prioritization: Could-Have:

Not a problem if it’s left out but still is of significance. After conducting the analysis, you may understand that a task or a step turns out to be not a priority but a simple next step of the future developments. The outcomes of your soon-to-be launch will not be impacted.

MoSCoW Prioritization: Will-Not-Have:

This is Irrelevant. Lose it. Not only for now, but for good. It will do no good and only will result in waste of your resources, most importantly, your time. Meaning? Move on. If a Task is decided as WNH, then you should not lose more time on it other than throwing it to the nearest rubbish bin. Accept, for good, that this is all that task/project/… is going to be.

Can you only use MoSCoW Method when you have Time Constraints?

No. Some other ways you can conduct this analysis may be,

Budget Constraints
Employees’ or Team Members’ Existing skillsets
Needs of Market’s Competition
And more.

What might be the downfalls of conducting MoSCoW Analysis?

Inconsistent Scoring
Tasks Ending up in Inaccurate or Mistaken Categories
Not including Stakeholders while conducting the analysis
Bias of Team Members or Employees
Not categorizing objectively or relevant to Your or Your Organization’s Objectives

To have the most successful MoSCoW Analysis:

Decide on a ranking/scoring system or method with proven efficiency and success
Get input from all key Stakeholders
Share the analysis and its results organization-wide

Let’s Review what we discussed onMoSCoW Analysis!

We learned that we use this method when we need to save our resources. These resources may be time, budget, competitive needs, and more. We learned that we use this method when we are required to use our time or other resources as effectively as possible. How do we conduct or perform this analysis? We have 4 categories to rank our items. These are Must-Have, Could-Have, Should-Have, and Will-Not-Have. If our objective is in WNH, then we know that we shall not waste more of our resources on it and that it is irrelevant or outdated.

Do you think MoSCoW Prioritization is effective?

Let us know in the comments below!