Prioritization matrix: value/effort, MoSCoW and CD3
Sort your list into quick wins and bigger bets, check your Must Haves against DSDM’s 60% guardrail, and rank projects by cost of delay. Nothing you enter is saved.
| Item | Value 1–5 | Effort 1–5 | MoSCoW | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigger bet | ||||
| Quick win | ||||
| Quick win | ||||
| Fill-in | ||||
| Bigger bet |
Must Have share of planned effort
56%
Within DSDM’s guardrail of no more than 60% of effort on Must Haves.
Could Haves: 22% of planned effort (DSDM suggests around 20% as contingency).
Cost of delay ÷ duration (CD3)
Monthly value of finishing, and weeks of work. Higher scores go first.
- 1. Project A — $5,000 per week of work
- 2. Project B — $1,875 per week of work
How it works
- Value vs effort (1–5 each): high value and low effort = quick win; high/high = bigger bet; low/low = fill-in; low value, high effort = probably not worth it.
- MoSCoW: share of planned effort (excluding Won’t) by category, checked against DSDM’s guidance of no more than 60% on Must Haves and around 20% on Could Haves.
- CD3: cost of delay ÷ duration — monthly value ÷ weeks of work; the higher the score, the sooner it should start.
How to read it
Scores are rough judgments — the conversation about where an item belongs is often worth more than the grid itself. If everything is a Must, the method isn’t doing its job.
The full explanation is in our guide: Prioritization Techniques: MoSCoW, Value vs. Effort and More.