{"id":33651,"date":"2019-11-08T16:26:57","date_gmt":"2019-11-08T15:26:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zenkit.com\/?p=33651"},"modified":"2023-03-29T10:32:37","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T08:32:37","slug":"how-to-prioritize-feature-requests-for-software-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zenkit.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-prioritize-feature-requests-for-software-development\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prioritize Software Development Feature Requests"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/p>\n

Feature prioritization is an important aspect of product development. Adding new features to your product allows you to improve it by meeting customer demands and staying ahead of the competition. However, it can be a difficult operation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prioritizing feature requests is an ongoing process in which product teams must collaborate to determine which new features to prioritize. Decisions must consider market competition, cost, time, and available resources, as well as align with business objectives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So, how do you know you’re making the right choice?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we’ll show you how to prioritize feature requests by considering the dimensions of each feature, as well as popular frameworks for implementing them and how the process looks from various perspectives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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11 Dimensions of Feature Prioritization<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The process of determining which features or functions of a product should be developed or improved first is known as feature prioritization. To prioritize features, the following dimensions can be used:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Estimated Profit<\/b><\/h3>\n

Profit is a significant factor to consider when deciding which features to prioritize. The first step may be to focus on the feature that will cost your team less to build rather than one that will cost more. However, the construction cost isn’t the only figure to consider. Consider the following example, which breaks down the figures involved in two feature requests:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cost to build<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

A: $1,000,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/i>B: $5,000<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Revenue<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

A: $2,000,000<\/i>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span>B: $100,000<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Profit<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

A: $1,000,000<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 \u00a0B: $95,000<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

At first glance, it appears that feature A has the potential to generate $2 million, so why would it not be prioritized over feature B? However, if you do the math, you’ll see that B has a higher profit margin.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Paid<\/b><\/h3>\n
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2. Business Value<\/b><\/h3>\n

This dimension factors in how much value the feature adds to the company or organization developing the product. Features that are more likely to increase revenue, lower costs, or improve the organization’s competitive position are typically prioritized higher than features with less business impact. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Market research, such as <\/span>analyzing<\/span> customer needs and <\/span>behaviour<\/span> and examining the competition, can be used to determine business value. Prioritizing features that align with business goals and objectives is critical to ensuring the product’s financial and strategic success.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. User Value<\/span>\/Market Risk<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

This dimension refers to how much value the feature adds to the product’s end users. Features that have a direct impact on the user experience, improve the user’s ability to achieve their goals, or provide significant benefits to the user are typically prioritized higher than less impactful features.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If you don’t have specific profit figures, you must estimate market risk. The market risk can influence where a feature should be placed on your priority list.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is not uncommon for features with higher technical risks to be associated with lower market risk. A social media app, for example, is something that can be built over the weekend, but that means that almost anyone can build it, which increases market risk. Building a teleport device, on the other hand, would take much longer than a weekend and would require a lot more effort, but it would pose a much lower market risk.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Conducting user research, such as user interviews, surveys, or usability testing, can help to determine user value. To ensure the product’s success, it’s critical to prioritize features that align with the user’s needs and goals.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Technical Risk<\/b><\/h3>\n

Each feature request brings with it its own set of technical risks. Delays, additional costs, or a feature inadvertently affecting other parts of your software in unexpected ways are all possibilities during development. Ideally, you should weigh in on each feature request and prioritize those that will not overburden your development team or process. Less risky features or those with a lower potential for negative impact on the product or project are typically prioritized higher than riskier features.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Technical<\/p>\n

A risk analysis can be used to determine the risks associated with a feature, which examines the potential impact of the feature on the product, the likelihood of the feature causing issues, and the ability to mitigate any potential issues. To ensure that the product is stable and reliable, prioritize features that have a low risk of causing problems.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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5. Technical Complexity\/Effort\/Resource Availability<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In addition to costs, the availability of resources should be considered when prioritizing feature requests. This can include but is not always limited to, the number of development work hours, time, and effort required to create and maintain each feature.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Features that can be quickly and easily implemented are typically prioritized higher than features that require a significant amount of time or resources. A feasibility analysis, which examines the technical feasibility of the feature, the availability of resources, and the timeline for implementation, can be used to determine the effort required to implement a feature. To ensure that the product is delivered on time and within budget, it is critical to prioritize features that can be implemented efficiently.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s an example of how this could work:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Feature A will take 10 weeks to complete, while Feature B will take 5 weeks.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

You currently have your entire team available, but keep in mind that the holiday season is approaching. Will you still have the same amount of power in 10 weeks? If yes, then perhaps feature A should be prioritized; if no, perhaps feature B should be prioritized right now.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thinking ahead can help you avoid problems or delays that could arise if only half of your team is available in the final stages of development.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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6. Team Risk<\/b><\/h3>\n

Because there are many different people involved in product development, and everyone wants to add their two cents, team risk is another dimension to consider when prioritizing feature requests.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Developers<\/a>, for example, may not take an idea rejection lightly if the reasons are not adequately explained. Other stakeholders may be disappointed that their latest brilliant idea will not be realized for very valid technical reasons. As a result, issues concerning the people who work on the product can sometimes outweigh technical risks.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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7. Team Value (aka. \u201cEating your own dog food\u201d)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201c<\/span>Eating your own dog food<\/span><\/a>\u201d <\/span>is a saying in the software industry that refers to companies testing their products internally in real-world scenarios to get a sense of how their customers would use them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Grocery
Just a gif of a dog doing his weekly shop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inquiring about the value of a product from the team that created it is both quality control and good marketing. Consider this: no one knows the product better than the people who created it. So, asking everyone involved how much value they place on a potential new feature could help you decide which requests to prioritize and which to reject.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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8. Development Cost<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This dimension includes the cost of developing each feature. It entails determining the resources (time, money, and manpower) needed to construct each feature. In most cases, if the estimated profit is significant, you would usually continue with the feature development. However, there may be times when a feature is too expensive to justify the effort (even if it has the potential to generate a large profit!).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Asteroid mining, for example, has the potential to generate enormous profits, but the costs associated with carrying it out may make it prohibitively expensive to pursue right now.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While other, more attainable features are prioritized, the asteroid mining feature request equivalent may have to take a back seat.<\/span><\/p>\n

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9. Time-to-Market <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

This dimension emphasizes the importance of each feature. It entails determining the time required to develop and release each feature, as well as the consequences of delaying its release.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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10. Dependencies <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

This dimension addresses how the feature interacts with other features or functionalities of the product. Features that rely on other features or functionalities that are already prioritized higher are typically prioritized higher than standalone features. A dependency analysis, which examines the relationships between different features and functionalities, can be used to determine the dependencies associated with a feature. To ensure that the product is cohesive and functional, prioritize features that can be seamlessly integrated into it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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11. Urgency<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

This dimension <\/span>considers<\/span> how urgently the feature is required. Features that are critical to the success of the product or project or have a tight deadline are typically prioritized higher than less urgent features. Examining the project timeline, customer needs, and business objectives can help determine the urgency of a feature. It is critical to prioritize time-sensitive features to ensure that the product is delivered on time and meets the needs of the customer.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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By taking these dimensions into account, product managers and teams can effectively and efficiently prioritize features and ensure they are delivering the most valuable features to users and the business.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Popular Feature Prioritization Frameworks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Prioritizing feature requests for software development is a critical task for any software development team. Here are some tips for effectively prioritizing feature requests:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Kano Model<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Kano model is a framework for understanding and categorizing the needs and desires of customers. Noriaki Kano, a Japanese researcher, invented it in the 1980s, and it has since become widely used in product development and customer satisfaction analysis.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kano model divides customer needs into three categories:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Basic Needs: Customers expect these features as a bare minimum for a product or service to be considered acceptable. If these requirements are not met, the product or service will fail. Reliability, ease of use, and safety are examples of basic needs.<\/span>
    \n<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Performance Needs: These are features that customers are explicitly looking for in a product or service. Meeting these needs can help a product differentiate itself from competitors and increase customer satisfaction. Examples of performance needs might include speed, design, and quality.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Excitement Needs: These are features that customers do not necessarily expect to see, but when they do, they delight the customer and create a memorable experience. Innovative features, personalized experiences, and unexpected benefits are examples of excitement requirements.<\/span>\n

    \"Kano
    Image by Craigwbrown<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Product designers and developers can prioritize which features to include in their products and services by understanding the various types of customer needs. Additionally, the Kano model assists businesses in identifying areas where they can exceed customer expectations and gain a competitive advantage.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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    RICE Score Model<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The RICE framework is a product development prioritization model that helps teams decide which projects or features to work on first. It takes into account four factors that are commonly used to assess a project’s potential impact:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n