Prioritizing themes and features can assist you in planning the associated backlog items.
You can prioritize by rank, or by the various Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) components: Business Value, the Cost of Delay (CoD) sum, or the overall WSJF score.
Ranking themes and features
The ranking order is simply a theme or feature's priority, compared to the other ones in the list. In the Themes or Features grid, do the following to prioritize items:
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Click the Rank column header to sort the grid by rank. Initially, themes and features are ranked in the order in which they were created.
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Drag the item up or down the grid to change its rank. Alternatively, enter a new rank number in the Rank field. Other items are automatically shifted up or down the grid and re-ranked accordingly.
Prioritizing by WSJF components
The WSJF formula is a well-established method for determining theme and feature priorities. It consists of various parameters, as well as calculated measurements that contribute to the overall WSJF score.
| WSJF fields | |
|---|---|
| Business Value | The theme or feature's value to customers or the business. For example, how the feature or theme will affect revenue. |
| Time Criticality | The urgency to deliver the theme or feature . |
| RR | OE | The theme or feature's value in eliminating risks or creating new opportunities. |
| Calculated measurements | |
| Cost of Delay |
The difference between a theme or feature being available now or later. The Cost of Delay is the weighted sum of the above components: Cost of Delay = (Business Value x BV weight) + (Time Criticality x TC weight) + (RR | OE x RR | OE weight) |
| Job Size | The estimated length of time needed to implement the theme or feature. |
| WSJF Score |
The ratio of the Cost of Delay and Job Size. The higher the WSJF score, the higher the theme or feature's priority. WSJF Score = Cost of Delay / Job Size |
Configure WSJF settings
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In Configuration, select Workspace > Settings.
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Under Weighted Smallest Job First (WSJF), select Enable WSJF. This makes the WSJF columns available in grids.
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Set the weights (0 / 0.25 / 0.5 / 0.75 / 1) you want to assign to the Cost of Delay components. The weights influence the calculation of the themes or features' Cost of Delay.
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Log out and log in again for your changes to take effect.
Prioritize themes or features using WSJF values
Use WSJF values to help you prioritize themes or features. Set values in the WSJF fields, and then sort the Theme or Feature grid accordingly.
Based on your policy, you can prioritize according to Business Value alone, the Cost of Delay (CoD) sum, or the overall WSJF score.
We recommend focusing on one WSJF component at a time. Set values for the selected component across all the planned features. That way you will be able to keep to a consistent scale for the component in question.
Note: For the CoD components, the possible values are: The values on the Fibonacci scale (from 1 to 21), 40, 100.
See also:
