What is MoSCoW Method?
A prioritization technique that categorizes requirements into Must, Should, Could, and Won't have.
The MoSCoW method is a prioritization technique that categorizes requirements or initiatives into four groups: Must Have (non-negotiable for the initiative to succeed), Should Have (important but not critical; the initiative can proceed without them), Could Have (desirable if time and resources allow), and Won't Have This Time (explicitly deferred to a future iteration). MoSCoW is best suited for scope management within individual projects rather than portfolio-level prioritization. Its main limitation is that it provides no ranking within categories: all 'Must Haves' get equal priority, which doesn't solve the core problem when you have more Must Haves than capacity. For portfolio-level decisions, combine MoSCoW with quantitative frameworks like RICE scoring.
Related terms
A prioritization framework that scores initiatives on Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort.
The systematic process of ranking and sequencing transformation initiatives based on value and feasibility.
A 2×2 visual framework that plots initiatives by their strategic value and implementation feasibility.
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