Relative weighting is a prioritization approach that considers both the benefits of a feature and the cost of that feature. The technique is best applied for setting approximately quarterly goals rather than each sprint.
Start by selecting up to four prioritization criteria and enter these as columns on the table below. These are the factors that are most important to the organization over the period being prioritized. Good candidates for selection criteria include:
- Further the strategy
- Increase sales; maximize ROI
- Establish a competitive advantage (or eliminate one)
- Increase customer satisfaction
- Reduce cost
- Improve employee satisfaction
- Ensure regulatory compliance
- Support delivery of a strategic initiative
- Extend the brand
- Maximize value to partners
- Improve IT process and platform
Next, select the epics or themes to consider. Add these as rows in the relative weighting table on this page. Then in the cell at the intersection of each epic or theme and prioritization criterion, enter a value from 1 (low) to 9 (high) indicating the positive impact of that epic or theme on the prioritization criterion.
Finally, enter the development cost for each epic or theme in any unit you’d like. Normally this is done with story points arrived at from playing Planning Poker.
