Back to Product Backlog Management

Prioritization Techniques

5 minutes 5 Questions

Prioritization techniques are methods used to arrange or deal with products backlog items in order of importance. This is crucial in Scrum to make sure that the team always works on the most valuable features. Many different techniques can be used, such as MoSCoW (Must have, Should have, Could have, and Would like but won’t get this time), Value vs. Effort, Weighted Shorted Job First (WSJF), Kano model etc. These techniques help the product owner to decide on what to develop next.

Guide to Prioritization Techniques

Prioritization techniques sit at the heart of product backlog management in Agile and Scrum methodologies. They are essential for ensuring that the team is always working on the most valuable features. Given the limited resources and time available in any project, effective prioritization can make the difference between success and failure.

Why is it important?
Prioritization techniques help to determine which backlog items should be addressed first, based on their value, cost, risk, and stakeholder preferences. This is instrumental in avoiding 'waste'—investing resources into features that bring little or no benefit to the end-users or the business.

What is it?
Prioritization techniques involve various criteria and metrics. Some of the commonly used methods include:1. Value vs. Cost: Where backlog items are evaluated based on the benefit they deliver relative to their cost2. Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF): That prioritizes tasks based on the time it will take and the potential gain or profit3. Must-Have, Should-Have, Could-Have, Won't Have (MoSCoW): A method to divide project deliverables into musts, shoulds, coulds, and won'ts.

How it works?
Prioritizing a product backlog involves steps such as identifying the importance of each item, estimating the effort or time it takes to complete each item, and then ranking them. The team then works on the highest-ranked items first before moving on to lower-priority ones.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Prioritization Techniques
When faced with questions on this topic during exams, remember to:1. Use precise terminology related to the methods you discuss2. Provide practical examples that demonstrate your understanding3. Explain the pros and cons of the techniques cited to display critical thinking skillsUnderstanding and applying prioritization techniques will not only make you an effective Scrum master but will also help you in the successful management of any task or project.

Test mode:
Start practice test
CSM - Product Backlog Management Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)

Question 1

Your team has been struggling to deliver user stories in order of priority due to dependencies. What should be the Scrum Master's best approach to handle this?

Correct Answer: Collaborate with the team to identify and mitigate the dependencies, thus, enabling them to prioritize effectively.

The best approach the Scrum Master should adopt in case of dependencies obstructing priority is to collaborate with the team to identify and mitigate those dependencies. This would enable the team to prioritize effectively. In Scrum, the Scrum Master acts as a facilitator for the team and removes impediments that the team might be facing. The other options are not typically effective strategies. Allowing the team to pick stories randomly does not follow the Scrum prioritization of work, which may lead to lesser priority tasks being completed earlier. Convincing the team to work overtime to finish all stories contradicts the sustainable pace principle of Agile, potentially leading to a burnout. Forcing the team to follow priorities regardless of dependencies might not be practical or even possible since dependencies might prevent the team from starting or completing some tasks.

Question 2

The Product Owner thinks that some features are more important than the ones the stakeholder thinks are important. As a ScrumMaster, what should you do?

Correct Answer: Facilitate a meeting between the Product Owner and the stakeholder to understand and prioritize the backlog items based on value.

As a ScrumMaster, your job is to promote and support Scrum by helping everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values. In a situation where there is a disagreement on the prioritization of features between the Product Owner and the stakeholder, facilitating a meeting between them is a good solution. They can discuss and understand each other's point of view and find a mutual accord on prioritizing the backlog items based on value and importance. The Product Owner's role is to streamline the efforts of the team by defining goals and prioritizing the backlog while taking into account the stakeholders' interests. This cannot be fulfilled by merely agreeing with the Product Owner or the stakeholder since that would mean disregarding the other's perspective. Moreover, it is not the ScrumMaster's place to decide the priorities themselves as it contradicts the principles of Scrum where the Product Owner is responsible for managing the Product Backlog.

Question 3

When the development team raises concerns about constantly changing priorities mid-sprint, how should a Scrum Master address this with the Product Owner?

Correct Answer: Explain to the Product Owner the impact of mid-sprint changes on the team's focus and ability to meet the sprint goal, and propose limiting changes

The best approach is to explain to the Product Owner the impact of mid-sprint changes on the team's focus and ability to meet the sprint goal, and propose limiting changes. Constantly changing priorities mid-sprint can disrupt the team's work, reduce their focus, and jeopardize the sprint goal. The Scrum Master should facilitate a conversation with the Product Owner to understand the reasons behind the changes and find a balance between accommodating important updates and maintaining a stable sprint. Advising the Product Owner to continue providing regular priority updates without considering the impact on the team is not a good solution. While coaching the team to be more adaptable is helpful, it doesn't address the root cause of the issue. Extending the sprint duration to accommodate changes may lead to longer feedback loops and reduced agility.

Go Premium

Certified ScrumMaster Preparation Package (2024)

  • 3861 Superior-grade Certified ScrumMaster practice questions.
  • Accelerated Mastery: Deep dive into critical topics to fast-track your mastery.
  • Unlock Effortless CSM preparation: 5 full exams.
  • 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed: Full refund with no questions if unsatisfied.
  • Bonus: If you upgrade now you get upgraded access to all courses
  • Risk-Free Decision: Start with a 7-day free trial - get premium features at no cost!
More Prioritization Techniques questions
9 questions (total)
Start 9 question test