WSJF: Prioritizing with Impact

You have a long backlog full of ideas, features, and improvements. But what do you tackle first? And why, exactly? The WSJF method (Weighted Shortest Job First) helps you answer that in a structured way.

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Why WSJF?

In Agile and SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), it's all about delivering value quickly. But without prioritization, a backlog quickly becomes a jumble of wishes and demands. WSJF helps you bring the real priorities to the forefront.

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How does WSJF work?

The WSJF method looks at the balance between value and effort. Simply put: what delivers the most value in the shortest time?

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How to calculate WSJF:

You assign each backlog item a score based on four factors:

1. Business Value (BV): How important is this task for your customer or organization?
2. Time Sensitivity (TS): How urgent is it? Does it need to be addressed quickly to deliver value?
3. Risk Reduction / Opportunities (RO): Does it help reduce risks or seize new opportunities?
4. Job Size (JS): How much work is it? Smaller tasks receive a higher score.

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The formula:

WSJF = (BV + TS + RO) ÷ JS

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Practical Example: How WSJF looks in action

Imagine you're working on a new webshop. These are the three most important backlog items:

1. Payment Functionality (iDEAL, credit card):
   • Business Value: 9
   • Time Sensitivity: 8
   • Risk Reduction: 5
   • Job Size: 5
   • WSJF Score: (9 + 8 + 5) ÷ 5 = 4,4
2. Update dashboard:
   • Business Value: 6
   • Time Sensitivity: 6
   • Risk Reduction: 3
   • Job Size: 3
   • WSJF Score: (6 + 6 + 3) ÷ 3 = 5.0
3. Add additional language options:
   • Business Value: 4
   • Time Sensitivity: 3
   • Risk Reduction: 2
   • Job Size: 4
   • WSJF Score: (4 + 3 + 2) ÷ 4 = 2.25

What stands out? Although the payment feature has a higher value, the calculation shows that updating the dashboard delivers more value faster.

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WSJF: When to use it?

WSJF is ideal when:

• You work in a complex environment with a long backlog.
• You want to deliver value quickly with limited resources.
• You want to base your decisions on objective criteria instead of opinions.

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Common mistakes with WSJF

But be aware: the WSJF method only works well if applied carefully. Common mistakes include:

• Too much focus on Business Value: You only look at value and forget to include risks and urgency.
• Incorrect estimation of Job Size: If you incorrectly estimate the required effort, you will get incorrect prioritization.
• Lack of reprioritization: WSJF is not a one-time exercise. Regularly review your scores to remain relevant.
• Everything gets high scores: Be critical when assigning values. Not everything can be the most important.

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WSJF in your team: How to get started?

Ready to apply WSJF? Follow these steps:

• Create a list of all backlog items you want to prioritize.
• Give each item a score based on Business Value, Time Sensitivity, Risk Reduction, and Job Size.
• Calculate the WSJF score and discuss the result with your team.
• Schedule the highest scores first in your Sprints.
• Review the scores regularly to adjust where needed.

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