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Glossary
Prioritization

What is WSJF?

WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First) is a prioritization framework used to sequence work by calculating the Cost of Delay relative to the size or duration of the task. It prioritizes items that deliver the most value in the shortest amount of time, ensuring teams maximize economic benefit.

When to use it

Use WSJF when managing a complex backlog where multiple high-value features compete for limited engineering capacity. It is particularly effective for teams using the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) or those needing a quantitative way to weigh business value, time sensitivity, and risk reduction against development effort.

Example

A SaaS team is choosing between three features: an API integration (Cost of Delay: 21, Size: 3), a UI refresh (CoD: 8, Size: 5), and a critical bug fix (CoD: 13, Size: 1). By dividing the Cost of Delay by the job size, the bug fix receives the highest WSJF score of 13, while the API integration scores 7 and the UI refresh scores 1.6. Even though the API integration might have higher total value, the team prioritizes the bug fix first because it provides immediate relief with minimal effort. This approach ensures the team doesn't get bogged down in long projects when quick, high-value wins are available.

How Planet Roadmap helps with WSJF

Planet Roadmap has a Table view that lets you visualize and sort your backlog by weighted scores to identify which initiatives to tackle next.

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FAQ

How is WSJF different from RICE scoring?
While RICE focuses on Reach and Impact, WSJF is centered on the Cost of Delay, which specifically accounts for time-sensitive market opportunities and technical risk reduction.
Can I use WSJF for small teams?
Yes, while WSJF originated in large-scale agile, small teams can use it to avoid analysis paralysis by using relative Fibonacci numbers (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13) to quickly score features against each other.

Related terms

Cost of DelayRICE ScoreWeighted ScoringBacklog GroomingSprint PlanningInitiative

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