🌀 The Ambiguity of Prioritisation.
I see so much ambiguity everywhere I go! This confusion is not just annoying.
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Originally posted on LinkedIn · 25 reactions · 6 comments · View original →
🌀 The Ambiguity of Prioritisation. Ever felt like 'priority' means something different to everyone in the room?
I see so much ambiguity everywhere I go! This confusion is not just annoying. It can lead to significant misalignment and waste. 👇🏽
I learned from David Anderson that when people say something is a priority, they usually mean one of these four things:
🔄 Sequence
The order in which a flow item should be done. When people talk about prioritising flow items, they often mean determining the sequence: first, second, third, and so on. However, prioritisation is not the same as sequencing, which is simply arranging work in a specific order. Sequencing is about the logical progression of tasks, ensuring each item is completed in the right order based on dependencies or context, but not necessarily its importance.
📅 Scheduling
Deciding when a flow item should start. Sometimes, when people say something is a priority, they mean it should start immediately. Scheduling is about timing and ensures that tasks begin at the most appropriate time based on urgency, resource availability, or deadlines. It answers the question of "when" rather than "in what order."
🔍 Selection
Picking which flow items to start from a pool of available options. Selection means deciding "what" to work on. It involves evaluating available flow items and choosing the ones that should be addressed. This decision doesn’t necessarily indicate the sequence or the timing but rather the choice of items that align best with current business needs or value.
- Class of Service
How the system of work should treat the flow item once it's selected. Each flow item falls under one of these four categories: Expedite, Fixed Date, Standard, and Intangible. These classes of service determine the item's urgency and how it should flow through the system. How much attention it should receive.
⚠️ When executives, senior leaders, delivery leaders, and individual contributors all talk about priority but mean different things, it leads to confusion and waste. Instead of using ambiguous terms, consider introducing a new taxonomy to your Ways of Working so everyone can communicate clearly and consistently.
💬 Have you experienced confusion due to ambiguous priorities? How did your team handle it?👇🏽