moscow-prioritization git:20261004.cc33b37A

Immutable. This exact content never changes and is served at /api/v1/blob/751c6e93f42ce72a.

---
name: moscow-prioritization
description: "MoSCoW prioritization: categorize requirements into Must Should Could Won't tiers using failure-focused test. Apply for backlog refinement, feature prioritization, sprint planning, release scope decisions, rebalance Must tier, create Won't items with revisit dates, adjudicate stakeholder disagreements, produce decision log. Keywords: prioritization, backlog, refinement, sprint planning, release scope, rebalance, stakeholder, decisions, MVP, scope control."
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash
---

# MoSCoW Prioritization

## When to Use

Use this skill when you need to rank requirements for a release.

## When Not to Use

Do not use this skill for task-level estimation, bug triage, or sprint capacity planning by itself.

## Principles

1. `Must` means release failure if missing.
2. `Should` means high value but deferrable.
3. `Could` means optional enhancement.
4. `Won't` means explicitly out of scope for this release.

## Deterministic Workflow

1. Collect candidate requirements in one list.
2. Confirm release constraints (date, budget, team).
3. Categorize each item with the decision tree in `references/categorization-decision-tree.md`.
4. Challenge every `Must` using failure-focused questions.
5. **Validate:** Verify that the `Must` count does not exceed 60% of total effort before proceeding.
6. Rebalance if `Must` work exceeds 60% of effort. If rebalancing cannot bring `Must` under 60%, escalate to stakeholders to either re-scope the release (split into two releases, extend the timeline, or increase capacity) before finalizing categories.
7. Publish final table with owners and review date.

## Quick Commands

### Create a workshop draft

```bash
cp skills/moscow-prioritization/references/facilitator-workshop-template.md .context/moscow-workshop-draft.md
```

Expected result: reusable working document for prioritization.

### Create a decision log

```bash
cat > .context/moscow-decisions-$(date +%Y-%m-%d).md <<'MD'
# MoSCoW Decision Log

| Requirement | Category | Rationale | Owner |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
MD
```

Expected result: traceable decisions with ownership.

### Validate skill quality after edits

```bash
sh skills/agentic-harness/skill-quality-auditor/scripts/evaluate.sh moscow-prioritization --json
```

Expected result: updated score and grade for this skill.

### Lint this skill documentation

```bash
rumdl check skills/moscow-prioritization
```

Expected result: no rumdl errors.

## Anti-Patterns

### NEVER label stakeholder preference as `Must`

- **WHY:** Preference is not the same as release-critical need.
- **BAD:** "Executive asked for dark mode, so it is Must."
- **GOOD:** "Dark mode is Should unless release fails without it."
- **Consequence:** `Must` list inflates and blocks true essentials.

### NEVER skip explicit `Won't` items

- **WHY:** Missing exclusions invite silent scope creep.
- **BAD:** Keep backlog open-ended with no rejected items.
- **GOOD:** Record rejected items with revisit date.
- **Consequence:** Team repeatedly reopens settled decisions.

### NEVER finalize priorities without constraint checks

- **WHY:** Categories are invalid without timeline and capacity context.
- **BAD:** Categorize before confirming release limits.
- **GOOD:** Validate date, staffing, and budget first.
- **Consequence:** Plans collapse during execution.

### NEVER keep categories without rationale

- **WHY:** Unjustified categories cannot be defended or audited.
- **BAD:** Spreadsheet with only item and category.
- **GOOD:** Include business outcome and risk rationale.
- **Consequence:** Priorities are re-litigated in every review.

## References

- `references/categorization-decision-tree.md`
- `references/facilitator-workshop-template.md`
- `references/effort-balancing-and-tradeoffs.md`