Having a prioritized product backlog is critical for agile teams to deliver maximum value. But with a laundry list of features, enhancements, bugs, and other items, how do you logically rank what should get worked on first? This is where the Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) framework comes in handy.
WSJF provides a formula to calculate numeric priority scores so you can objectively sequence your backlog. It takes into account important criteria like business value, urgency, risk reduction, and effort to quantify the relative priority of each item. The WSJF methodology stems from the principles of lean and cost of delay. It aims to maximize outcome by prioritizing quick wins and high-value work.
In this post, we’ll break down exactly how to apply Weighted Shortest Job First to your backlog prioritization process. You’ll learn:
- How to define criteria for ranking backlog items
- How to calculate WSJF scores using the formula
- How to arrange your backlog in priority order based on the scores
With the WSJF framework, you can bring data-driven decision making and objectivity into the often ambiguous process of product prioritization. Let’s dive in and take a look at an example…
Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) Example
Here’s an example of how the Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) framework can be used for effective prioritization:
- Define Backlog Criteria: Identify the criteria for prioritization: Business Value, Time Criticality, Risk Reduction, and Job Size.
- Assign Scores:
- Business Value (BV): Rate the potential value or benefits of each backlog item.
- Time Criticality (TC): Evaluate how time-sensitive the item is.
- Risk Reduction (RR): Assess the potential for mitigating risks.
- Job Size (JS): Estimate the effort or complexity of implementing the item.
- Calculate WSJF Score: For each item, calculate its WSJF score using the formula: WSJF = (BV + TC + RR) / JS.
- Prioritize: Arrange the backlog items in descending order based on their WSJF scores. Higher WSJF scores indicate higher priority.
Example:
Suppose there are three backlog items, and you assign the following scoring:
| BV | TV | RR | JS | |
| Item A | 8 | 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Item B | 9 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Item C | 7 | 6 | 8 | 5 |
Here’s how to calculate the WSJF scores:
- Item A: WSJF = (8 + 5 + 7) / 3 = 6.67
- Item B: WSJF = (9 + 3 + 6) / 4 = 4.50
- Item C: WSJF = (7 + 6 + 8) / 5 = 4.20
The resulting priority order would be as follows:
- Item A (WSJF = 6.67)
- Item B (WSJF = 4.50)
- Item C (WSJF = 4.20)
The WSJF framework helps prioritize by considering the business value, time criticality, risk reduction, and job size of each backlog item. This ensures that items with a higher potential for value, urgency, and risk mitigation are addressed with greater priority.
Conclusion
Prioritizing your product backlog is essential for delivering maximum value as an agile team. But it can be challenging to logically rank a diverse set of backlog items without a data-driven framework. This is where Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) comes in handy.
By systematically scoring backlog items based on business value, time criticality, risk reduction, and job size, you can calculate numeric WSJF priority scores. This allows you to objectively sequence your backlog in order of what should be worked on first.
Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) provides a quantitative approach to what is often a qualitative prioritization process. While it takes effort to define criteria and score backlog items, the end result is a prioritized backlog based on value, urgency, and risk. This gives your team confidence they are working on the right things in the right order.
As you adopt Weighted Shortest Job First, remember to engage stakeholders in defining criteria and scoring items. Make the framework flexible based on changing priorities. Re-evaluate and re-prioritize your backlog before each development iteration.
With an effective WSJF-powered prioritization process in place, you can lead your agile team in delivering maximum business value. A well-ranked backlog ensures effort is focused on quick wins, high-value features, and risk reduction. This ultimately translates into delighted customers and successful products.