Prioritization

Prioritization is a key aspect in Agile Project Management, and it plays a vital role in preparing for the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) exam. Understanding and implementing prioritization can significantly enhance the productivity and efficiency of any Agile Project.

1. Understanding Prioritization

In Agile, prioritization refers to the process of ranking the product backlog items (like user stories or features) based on their importance, value to the business, dependencies, and risk. The primary objective of prioritization is to maximize the delivery of value.

2. Importance of Prioritization

Effective prioritization helps ensure that the most valuable features are developed and delivered first. This is crucial because the team’s time and resources are limited. In Agile projects, it’s not uncommon for requirements to change or evolve over time, prioritization ensures that teams remain focused on delivering the highest value despite these changes. Furthermore, it offers a clear direction and aids in decision-making during the product development process.

3. Prioritization Techniques in Agile

There are several widely used techniques for prioritizing work in Agile:

• a) MoSCoW Method: It stands for Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won’t have. This technique prioritizes items into these four categories to help teams understand what needs to be done first.
• b) Value vs. Effort Matrix: This is a visual tool that helps to make decisions about what to prioritize based on the value (benefit) and effort (cost/resources) of each item. Items are placed in a quadrant based on their relative value and effort.
• c) Kano Model: This model classifies features into five categories: Must-Be, Performance, Excitement, Indifferent, and Reverse. It’s mainly used to gauge customer satisfaction in product development.
• d) Prioritization based on Dependencies and Risk: Some items might be highly dependent on others or may carry significant risk. These items may need to be prioritized even if they are not of the highest value.

The best technique usually depends on the nature of the project and the specific circumstances.

4. PMI-ACP Exam and Prioritization

The PMI-ACP certification expects candidates to understand the concept of prioritization in Agile. Questions may revolve around the necessity, benefits, and techniques of prioritization, including the MoSCoW method, Value-Effort matrix, Kano Model, and risk-based prioritization.

In conclusion, a comprehensive understanding of prioritization is a necessity for both Agile Project Management and preparation for the PMI-ACP exam. It is a powerful tool to ensure maximum delivery of value, making it crucial for project success. Therefore, aspiring PMI-ACP candidates must thoroughly understand these concepts and know when to apply them in different scenarios to excel in their exam and beyond.

Practice Test

True or False: In the MoSCoW prioritization model, the “S” stands for “Should have”.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: In the MoSCoW prioritization model, “M” stands for “Must have”, “S” stands for “Should have”, “C” stands for “Could have”, and “W” stands for “Would like to have”.

True or False: High priority items should be the most complex and time-consuming tasks in a project.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: The high priority tasks are not necessarily the most complex. They may be the tasks that have the largest impact on the project or deliver the highest value, regardless of complexity.

Which of these is not a common method for prioritizing tasks in Agile project management?

• Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF)
• MoSCoW method
• Kano model
• Heisenberg model

Answer: Heisenberg model

Explanation: The Heisenberg model is not used in Agile project management for task prioritization; it’s from the field of Physics. The other models listed, WSJF, MoSCoW and Kano are all commonly used in Agile.

In terms of project prioritization, what defines a task or feature as “necessary” or “must-have”?

• The task or feature will provide significant added value to the product.
• The task or feature is relatively quick and easy to complete.
• The omission of the task or feature will make the product nonfunctional.
• Stakeholders insist on including the task or feature.

Answer: The omission of the task or feature will make the product nonfunctional.

Explanation: Must-have or necessary tasks and features are those critical for basic product functionality. Without them, the product would not work as intended.

True or False: Prioritization is only done at the beginning of a project.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Prioritization is an ongoing process throughout the lifecycle of a project. As project scope, constraints, and environment change, priorities can also shift.

Which of the following factors should not influence task prioritization?

• The expertise of team members.
• The anticipated cost of the task.
• The cosmetic appeal of the potential outcome.
• The potential value or benefit to the project.

Answer: The cosmetic appeal of the potential outcome.

Explanation: While cosmetic appeal can be important, it’s generally not a key factor for task prioritization. Value, cost, and team capabilities tend to carry more weight in priority decisions.

True or False: Prioritization helps to manage risks in a project.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Prioritizing tasks helps manage project risks by ensuring that the most critical tasks are handled first, which provides mitigation against potential project issues.

The Kano model categorizes features into all the following except:

• Attractive
• Indifferent
• Must-be
• Unnecessary

Answer: Unnecessary

Explanation: The Kano model categorizes features into Attractive, Performance, Must-be, and Indifferent. There is no “Unnecessary” category.

True or False: All tasks should be given equal priority in order to ensure project fairness.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Not all tasks are of equal importance or urgency in a project. Prioritizing tasks help streamline workflow and ensures optimized resource allocation.

Which of the following is not a benefit of prioritizing in project management?

• Helps to manage scope
• Reduces distractions and improves focus
• Equalizes task durations
• Enhances decision-making

Answer: Equalizes task durations

Explanation: Prioritizing doesn’t necessarily equalize task durations. It rather helps to better allocate resources and manage time effectively.

Interview Questions

What is prioritization in agile project management?

Prioritization in agile project management is the process of deciding the order in which work needs to be done based on its relative importance or urgency. This helps in dealing with constraints of time, resources, and scope effectively while delivering maximum business value.

Why is prioritization important in agile methodologies?

Prioritization helps to manage risks by focusing on high priority items first. It ensures that critical functionalities are developed and tested early. Prioritization also increases customer satisfaction since the customers’ most important needs are met early.

What is the MoSCoW approach to prioritization commonly used in agile work?

The MoSCoW approach breaks priorities down into four categories: Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won’t have. This method helps in understanding what the stakeholders really need and what can be postponed or avoided.

How does the Kano Model assist in prioritization?

The Kano Model helps to prioritize by classifying customer preferences into five categories: Attractive, One-Dimensional, Must-Be, Indifferent, and Reverse.
Listening to customer responses, the team can identify which features are considered basic expectations (Must-Be), which enhance satisfaction (Attractive), and which can lead to dissatisfaction if not fulfilled (One-Dimensional).

What is a prioritized backlog in agile methodologies?

A prioritized backlog is a list of all potential features of the product, prioritized in the order of business value or importance. The higher priority items are developed first to maximize customer value.

What is the purpose of a prioritization matrix in agile project management?

A prioritization matrix is used to compare choices relative to criteria like risk level, business value, and estimated time for completion, to rank the importance of deliverables. This aids teams in focusing their efforts on high-value tasks.

How does Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) help in prioritization?

WSJF helps in prioritizing jobs based on the value delivered to cost ratio. The jobs that provide the highest value for the least amount of effort are prioritized first.

What is value-based prioritization in agile project management?

Value-based prioritization focuses on delivering the maximum business value in the shortest possible timeframe. It involves prioritizing product backlog items based on their business value, size, risk, and uncertainty.

What is the role of the Product Owner in prioritization?

The Product Owner is primarily responsible for prioritizing the product backlog. They rank the user stories or features based on the business value, advice from stakeholders, and technical insight from the team.

How does relative weighting help in prioritization?

Relative weighting is a technique whereby features are scored based on their benefit and the cost to develop them. The features with the highest benefit-to-cost ratio are given higher priority.

Does a higher priority item always need to be done before a lower priority one?

No, a higher priority item does not always need to be done before a lower priority one, especially if the lower priority one is a dependency for a higher priority task. Thus, dependencies, risk, and effort are also significant factors to consider in prioritizing tasks.

Why is it important to regularly revisit and adjust priorities in agile project management?

Agile is a flexible approach, priorities may change as business needs, market conditions, or technology evolve. Regular revisits help to ensure that the team is always working on the most valuable features.

How is prioritization related to Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in an agile environment?

Prioritization contributes to defining the MVP – the most simplified version of the product that still delivers value to the customer. High priority features typically form the MVP.

What is an example of a tool for large-scale prioritization in agile methodologies?

The Program Prioritization matrix is an example of a tool used for large-scale prioritization. It helps in deciding which project or feature to be developed next across multiple teams or programs.

Can ROI (Return on Investment) be used as a prioritization technique in agile?

Yes, ROI which is the ratio of the net profit to the investment made can be used to prioritize features or projects. Those with the highest ROI are considered of high priority as they present the greatest value for the investment made.