WSJF Automated

WSJF is a form of software backlog prioritisation.  It helps inform teams and managers, the ideal sequencing of delivering capabilities based value vs cost.  All software backlog prioritisation depends on the following three factors:

1. Value.  How valuable is a capability (what is the cost to the business of this being delayed).
2. Dependencies.  Are other capabilities dependent on this one
3. Cost. How hard (cost) is this capability to deliver

Value.  A common technique for assessing value is the cost of delay, or specifically what is the monthly cost of delay (MCOD) of each particular capability.  In other words,  what would the business suffer each month that this capability is delayed in being delivered.

Dependency. Each capability may unlock other capabilities.  In other words, if other capabilities depend on this one being delivered first, then the value of delivering this one is enhanced.

Cost. The cost of delivering a capability (backlog functional user story or epic) is typically aligned to it’s size in COSMIC function points.

Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF).

A useful formula for prioritising backlog items is the the value/cost equation.  This is known as the weighted shortest job first as is calculated as the Monthly cost of delay (value) / Functional size (cost).

WSJF Automated

Since ScopeMaster autocalculates the size, it is just up to you to add the value (MCOD) for each item to obtain a weighted shortest job first prioritised backlog.  ScopeMaster makes this so easy to do.