HKSM
Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF)
A SAFe method for ordering work by comparing the economic value a job delivers to the effort or duration required, so items with the highest value per unit of effort are done first.
Key Points
- WSJF prioritizes by dividing Cost of Delay by job size (or duration) to maximize value per effort.
- Cost of Delay commonly blends user/business value, time criticality, and risk reduction or opportunity enablement.
- Uses relative estimation (e.g., story points or t-shirt sizes) rather than exact hours.
- Higher WSJF scores indicate items that should be scheduled sooner to improve economic outcomes.
Example
A product team compares three features. They estimate Cost of Delay (CoD) and job size. Feature A: CoD 20, size 5 (WSJF 4). Feature B: CoD 13, size 2 (WSJF 6.5). Feature C: CoD 21, size 7 (WSJF 3). They deliver Feature B first because it provides the most value for the least effort.
PMP Example Question
In a SAFe context, which technique should a product manager use to sequence backlog items to deliver the greatest value relative to effort?
- RICE scoring (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort)
- MoSCoW prioritization
- Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF): Cost of Delay divided by job size
- First-In, First-Out (FIFO)
Correct Answer: C — Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF)
Explanation: WSJF is a SAFe prioritization technique that balances value against effort by dividing Cost of Delay by job size, so higher-scoring items are done first.
