During my time as Senior Product Lead for Design Systems and Engineering (DSE) at CVS Health, one of my responsibilities of working in a Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) was estimating and prioritizing what items in our roadmap would be worked on and in what priority. I adopted Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) to use as our system. I applied this to the roadmap as it was hosted in Rally and in Airtable.
One of the most common questions I received when refining a backlog was “Steve, what if an executive really needs this? We have to give them priority.” To that end I implemented the “Escalation Weighting” modifier to allow quantification of this qualitative property. The following text is the recreation of the Confluence documentation which in itself was a simplification of the explanation as it is on the Scaled Agile Framework website.
Using Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) in DSE
In a SAFe Agile environment, where multiple projects compete for resources, the use of Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) provides a valuable approach to effective prioritization. This document delves into the mathematics behind WSJF and its practical application within a Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) environment.
Understanding WSJF
Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) is a prioritization technique that enables organizations to make informed decisions by considering the cost of delay, job size, and business value. It helps identify and focus on high-value work items that yield the most significant impact. WSJF is based on the principle that value diminishes over time and the cost of delay should be factored into the decision-making process.
WSJF Mathematics in SAFe Agile
Within a SAFe Agile environment, WSJF can be applied using mathematical formulas to prioritize work at the Feature level. Let’s explore the mathematics behind the framework and its practical implementations:
WSJF and Features
WSJF is used to prioritize features and user stories during Program Increment (PI) planning. The following formula calculates the score for each feature:
WSJF Score = (Business Value + User Time Criticality + Risk Reduction) / Job Size
The Business Value represents the potential impact on achieving business objectives, User Time Criticality reflects the urgency or time sensitivity of the feature, Risk Reduction accounts for risk mitigation, and Job Size denotes the relative size or effort required to complete the feature. By calculating the WSJF score for each feature, teams can collectively decide which features to prioritize for development and delivery during the upcoming PI.
Escalation Weighting
We can add and “Escalation Factor” for a particular feature if it is deemed urgent or a priority from other stakeholders. This is somewhat subjective, and would require discussion amongst the various disciplines to invoke. Note that is only to be used in unique circumstances and is not always a part of the WSJF mathematics. A simple scale of could suffice:
1 = Minor Importance
2 = Significant Importance
3 = Major Importance
The Escalation Factor is a straight addition to the equation as follows:
WSJF Score = (Business Value + User Time Criticality + Risk Reduction + Escalation Factor) / Job Size
Implementation Considerations
When implementing WSJF in a SAFe Agile environment, it is important to consider the following:
Collaboration and Transparency
Prioritization should involve cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure diverse perspectives are considered. Collaboration and transparency enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of the prioritization process.
Regular Refinement
WSJF prioritization is an iterative process that requires regular refinement. As new information becomes available or priorities change, the scores should be reassessed and adjusted accordingly.
Continuous Improvement
Encourage a culture of continuous improvement by analyzing the outcomes of WSJF implementation. By capturing feedback and applying lessons learned, organizations can refine their prioritization process and optimize value delivery over time.
Conclusion
By leveraging the mathematics behind WSJF, we can effectively prioritize work items and maximize value delivery. The formulas for calculating the scores provide a systematic approach for considering the cost of delay, job size, and business value at different levels within the SAFe framework. By embracing collaboration, regular refinement, and continuous improvement, we can enhance their ability to deliver high-value work items aligned with our roadmap.