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Also known as: MoSCoW method, MoSCoW analysis

MoSCoW Prioritization

FoundationalFrameworksProduct

Definition

MoSCoW Prioritization: MoSCoW categorizes requirements into Must have (essential), Should have (important but not critical), Could have (nice to have), and Won't have (excluded for now). It clarifies scope and sets expectations by forcing explicit decisions about what's truly essential versus merely desired.

Example Usage

“MoSCoW forced hard conversations. Marketing wanted 10 features in V1—only 3 were true 'Must haves.' We launched faster with less.”

Common Misconceptions

Everything important is 'Must have.' Must have means the release is worthless without it—truly essential.
Won't have means never. It means not this release; items can move to future iterations.
Categories are fixed. Reprioritize as you learn; 'Should have' can become 'Must have' based on feedback.

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