A Product Owner is primarily responsible for determining the priority of items within the Product Backlog based on value, risk, dependencies, and customer feedback.

To prioritize a Backlog, the Product Owner must:

• Beginner
  • Understand the Business Objectives
    • Gain clarity on the business objectives and goals for the product.
    • Understand how the product contributes to the organization's strategic priorities.
  • Gather Stakeholder Input
    • Engage with stakeholders to gather input on their needs, preferences, and priorities.
    • Ensure that backlog prioritization reflects stakeholder interests and aligns with business objectives.
  • Apply Simple Prioritization Techniques
    • Use basic prioritization techniques such as ranking backlog items based on their perceived importance or urgency.
    • Establish a starting point for backlog prioritization, focusing on high-level priorities and immediate needs.
  • Intermediate
    • Define Value Criteria
      • Define criteria for assessing the value of backlog items, such as customer impact, strategic alignment, technical feasibility, and effort required.
      • Create a framework for evaluating backlog items objectively and consistently.
    • Conduct Stakeholder Workshops
      • Facilitate workshops with stakeholders to collaboratively prioritize backlog items based on agreed-upon criteria.
      • Foster alignment, consensus, and shared understanding among stakeholders regarding backlog priorities.
    • Use Relative Prioritization Technique
      • Apply relative prioritization techniques such as MOSCOW (Must Have, Should Have, Could Have, Won't Have) or Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF).
      • Prioritize backlog items systematically, considering factors such as business value, dependencies, and urgency.
    • Advanced
      • Leverage Data & Insights
        • Utilize data analytics, user feedback, and market research to inform backlog prioritization decisions.
        • Make data-driven decisions that maximize the value delivered to customers and stakeholders.
      • Experiment and Validate Assumptions
        • Conduct experiments, MVPs (Minimum Viable Products), or prototypes to validate assumptions and test the potential impact of backlog items.
        • Reduce uncertainty and mitigate risk by testing hypotheses before committing resources to development.
      • Continuously Refine and Adapt
        • Regularly review and refine backlog priorities based on changing business needs, market conditions, and stakeholder feedback.
        • Maintain agility and responsiveness, ensuring that backlog priorities remain aligned with evolving product goals and strategic objectives.

To support in the prioritization of a Product Backlog, the Product Manager must:

• Beginner
  • Align on Business Goals
    • Ensure that the Product Backlog prioritization aligns with overarching business objectives and contributes to the achievement of key organizational goals.
  • Product Stakeholder Insights
    • Share insights and feedback gathered from stakeholders, including customers, executives, and internal teams with the Product Owner.
    • Help the Product Owner make informed prioritization decisions by providing valuable insights into stakeholder needs, preferences, and pain points.
  • Offer Guidance on Value Criteria
    • Collaborate with the Product Owner to define criteria for assessing the value of backlog items, considering factors such as customer impact, strategic alignment, technical feasibility, and business value.
    • Provide guidance and support the Product Owner in establishing a framework for evaluating backlog its objectively and consistently.
  • Intermediate
    • Facilitate Collaborative Prioritization
      • Facilitate collaboration prioritization sessions with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and subject matter experts.
      • Foster alignment and consensus among stakeholders, ensuring that backlog priorities reflect a shared understanding of business objectives and user needs.
    • Analyze Data and Insights
      • Analyze data, user feedback, market research, and product metrics to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities.
      • Provide data-driven insights to the Product Owner to inform the backlog prioritization decisions and optimize the allocation of resources.
    • Coach on Prioritization Techniques
      • Coach the Product Owner on various prioritization techniques and frameworks such as MOSCOW or Value vs. Effort analysis.
      • Empower the Product Owner with the skills and knowledge to prioritize backlog items systematically, considering factors such as business value, dependencies, and urgency.
    • Advanced
      • Encourage Experimentation and Innovation
        • Encourage the Product Owner to experiment with new ideas, features, and initiatives to drive innovation and continuous improvement.
        • Foster a culture of experimentation and learning, empowering the Product Owner to take calculated risks and explore new opportunities for value creation.
      • Mentorship and Development
        • Support the Product Owner in advancing their skills and capabilities in backlog prioritization, strategic decision-making, stakeholder management, and product leadership.
      • Champion Product Vision and Strategy
        • Align stakeholders and teams around a shared vision for the product, guiding the Product Owner in prioritizing backlog items that advance the product's long-term objectives and market positioning.

• Value Based Prioritization
  • MOSCOW (Must Have, Should Have, Could Have, Won't Have): Categorize backlog items based on their importance and necessity. Focus on delivering "Must Have" features first, followed by "Should Have' and " Have" items.
  • Kano Method: Classify backlog items based on their impact on customer satisfaction. Prioritize features that provide excitement to users, following by those that improve performance or meet basic expectations.
• Risk Based Prioritization
  • Risk vs Reward: Assess the potential risks and rewards associated with each backlog item. Prioritize items with high potential rewards and low associated risks to maximize value and minimize uncertainty.
  • Technical Debt: Address technical debt and maintenance tasks that may impede future development efforts. Prioritize backlog items that reduce technical debt and improve the stability, scalability, and maintainability of the product.
• Cost of Delay
  • WSJF (Weighted Shorted Job First): Calculate the WSJF score for each backlog item by dividing the cost of delay by the job size. Prioritize items with the highest WSJF score, which represent the greatest potential value relative to their size.
• User-Centric Prioritization
  • User Value: Prioritize backlog items based on their direct impact on user value and satisfaction. Focus on features and enhancements that address critical user needs, pain points, and feedback.
  • User Feedback and Metrics: Gather user feedback, conduct usability testing, and analyze product metrics to identify high-impact backlog items. Prioritize items that align with user preferences, behavior patterns, and desired outcomes.
• Strategic Alignment
  • Product Vision Roadmap: Ensure that backlog prioritization aligns with the product vision, strategy, and roadmap. Prioritize items that contribute to the overarching product goals and strategic objectives.
  • Business Value: Evaluate the potential business value of each backlog item, considering factors such as revenue potential, market differentiation, and competitive advantage. Prioritize items that have a significant impact on the bottom line and long-term success of the product.
• Continuous Refinement
  • Iterative and Incremental: Prioritize backlog items iteratively and incrementally based on evolving priorities, market dynamics, and stakeholder feedback. Continuously review and refine backlog priorities to adapt to changing circumstances and emerging opportunities.
  • Backlog Grooming: Regularly groom the product backlog to review, prioritize, and refine backlog items. Collaborate with stakeholders and the development team to ensure that backlog items remain aligned with strategic objectives and user needs.

When prioritizing the Backlog, keep the below items in mind:

• Dependencies between Product Backlog items
• Affected number of users
• Dependencies on other Products
• Regulatory requirements
• Value of Product Backlog Items
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Business Value
  • Cost
  • Risk & Opportunity
  • Complexity

Remember to:

• Take quick wins first.
• Prioritize dependencies as needed.
• Identify impediments & conduct investigations early.
• Account for resource availability and scheduling.
• Anticipate bugs.