MoSCoW Method
Welcome to the first part of our three-part series of articles on productivity methods. In this article, we will introduce you to the MoSCoW method, a proven prioritization technique used in project management and software development, among others.
What is the MoSCoW Method?
As a prioritization technique, the MoSCoW method helps to categorize requirements in projects. The name is made up of the first letters of the English terms: Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won't have. These categories help to focus on the most important tasks.
Categories in Detail
Must have: These requirements are essential. Without them, the project cannot be successfully completed.
Should have: These requirements are important, but not critical. They contribute to project quality, but are not essential.
Could have: These requirements are desirable but not necessary. They can be implemented if time and resources allow.
Won't have: Diese Anforderungen werden in diesem Projektzyklus nicht berücksichtigt. Sie können für zukünftige Projekte in Betracht gezogen werden.
Realization in Merlin Project
Merlin Project allows you to easily prioritize tasks and requirements. To do this, you can increase (>500) or decrease (<500) the priority in the inspector under Activity: Plan in the "Advanced" tab.
Our suggestion:
- Must Have = Priority 1.000
- Should Have = Priority 750
- Could Have = Priority 250
- Won't Have = Priority 0
This categorization means that all new activities are still categorized with a priority of 500, allowing you to see at a glance which elements you have not yet prioritized individually.
You can now filter your project by priority, for example to only see or groupactivities with priority 1,000. By grouping, you can now always see all activities of the same priority level one below the other.
Conclusion
Use the MoSCoW method to ensure that your most important tasks are completed first. With Merlin Project's visual tools, you can keep track of your priorities and make adjustments if project requirements change.
In the next part of our series, we will take a look at the RICE Scoring Method.
