MoSCoW Method

The MoSCoW method is a prioritization technique used in many management spheres to achieve consensus on what is most important to stakeholders and consumers.

This term is an acronym, where each consonant letter represents one of the possible priority categories (with the added letters O for better memorization). Thus, priorities are classified as:

Must have – everything under this category is critical and must be included in the product. If something from it is not included, the release is considered a failure. However, this priority can be lowered if there is stakeholder agreement.

Should have – these are important requirements but not critical for the release. These are the first level of “wants,” and generally, in terms of importance, they correspond to Must requirements but are not as time-sensitive.

Could have – these are desirable but optional requirements for the release. Typically, these are inexpensive product improvements. Despite their low importance, this is the second level of “wants.”

Won’t have – these are functional features that are least critical or do not align with the product strategy. They should be set aside or kept in mind for subsequent product releases.