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Strategy

Prioritisation

Plain English

Deciding what matters most.

Definition

Prioritisation is the of ranking tasks, , or initiatives based on their importance, impact, and effort.

In practice

Used to decide what to work on first using like RICE, MoSCoW, or impact vs effort scoring.

In context

It only bites when the list is forced. Ranking everything as high, medium or low leaves the real decision to whoever is loudest in the room.

The reality

Everything feels important, and prioritisation is often driven by pressure rather than actual value.

Compared with

Prioritisation vs Sequencing

Prioritisation ranks by value and effort. Sequencing orders by and capacity. The highest-priority item often cannot be started first, and confusing the two produces plans that stall immediately.

FAQ

Common questions

A few practical answers to the questions that usually come up around this term.

What is prioritisation in product management?

It is the of deciding what work should be done first based on impact and effort.

Why is prioritisation important?

It ensures teams focus on the highest value work.

What are prioritisation frameworks?

Methods like RICE or MoSCoW used to rank work objectively.

Why do teams struggle with prioritisation?

Because of conflicting priorities and limited resources.

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