MoSCoW Analysis

Today I used a new (to me) tool in class - the MoSCoW analysis technique. The capital letters in MoSCoW stand for:

• M - MUST have this
• S - SHOULD have this if at all possible
• C - COULD have this if it does not affect anything else
• W - WON'T have this time but WOULD like in the future

We were discussing the design of databases in a Technology Fundamentals class. I set the students to work in pairs and design a database for their local Chinese Takeaway - they were allowed to add anything they wanted. Below is a photo of their suggestions (taken with my spare mobile phone that I use for class):

We then went though each item and labeled it with M, S, C, or W in an effort to decide what should be in the database. I used a Chinese Takeaway example because almost everybody will be familiar with ordering food for delivery from their local restaurant. The students seemed to enjoy this exercise and by the end we had agreed on what should be in the database, and what is less important. Hopefully they will found the exercise useful and imformative. I found it useful and informative too!