In the dynamic realm of data governance, a product manager’s role is pivotal in steering projects towards success. A key to this success is the ability to prioritize tasks effectively. One of the most efficient ways to achieve this is through the Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) method, a cornerstone of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe).

WSJF is more than just a prioritization tool; it’s a strategic approach that combines economic thinking with Lean-Agile principles. By focusing on the relative cost of delay and job duration, WSJF ensures that the most valuable and time-sensitive tasks are tackled first, maximizing the economic benefits.

The Agile Data Governance Context

In Agile Data Governance, our primary goal is to iteratively create and enhance data assets. This process involves aligning data producers, consumers, and domain experts to focus on solving specific business problems through data-driven insights. The WSJF method fits perfectly into this ecosystem by helping to identify which data initiatives should be prioritized to deliver the highest value in the shortest time.

Applying WSJF in Data Governance

Imagine you’re a Data Governance Product Manager. Your work requests, or features in agile terminology, range from enhancing data quality to ensuring compliance with regulations. How do you decide what to tackle first? WSJF is one way to prioritize features.

Here are the steps to prioritizing using WSJF:

Assess Value and Effort

Begin by evaluating each initiative based on four key factors:

• Business Value: How much will this initiative contribute to business goals?

• Time Criticality: Are there deadlines or seasonal factors that make this initiative more urgent now verses later?

• Risk Reduction/Opportunity Enablement: Does the initiative mitigate significant risks or enable new opportunities?

• Size: How long will it take to complete this initiative?

Quantify the Factors

Assign a relative score to each factor. For instance, a project that significantly improves customer satisfaction might score higher in business value.

Calculate the WSJF Score

Divide the total of the first three factors by the job size. The initiatives with the highest scores are your top priorities.

Prioritize by WSJF

Prioritize the Features by choosing the Features with the highest WSJF values.

Seasonal Variations in Value

The value of data governance initiatives can fluctuate based on the time of year or business season. For example, in a health insurance company, cleaning customer address data becomes more critical as the fourth quarter approaches, aligning with the period of crucial customer communications. WSJF allows for the flexibility to reevaluate and reprioritize tasks as these seasonal factors come into play.

The Benefits of WSJF in Agile Data Governance

• Efficiency and Focus: By prioritizing tasks that offer the most value in the shortest time, teams can work more efficiently and with greater focus.

• Adaptability: The method allows for regular reassessment, ensuring that priorities align with changing business needs and market conditions.

• Collaboration and Transparency: The WSJF process encourages collaboration among stakeholders, fostering a transparent and inclusive decision-making environment.

Conclusion

In the rapidly evolving world of data governance, the ability to prioritize effectively is crucial. The Weighted Shortest Job First method offers a structured, economic-based approach to ensure that data governance initiatives are aligned with business value and urgency. By adopting WSJF, data governance product managers can ensure that their teams are not just busy, but busy with the right things at the right time.

For those eager to delve deeper into the transformative potential of Agile Data Governance, exploring its role in advancing data-driven cultures is highly recommended. Remember, in the journey towards a data-driven organization, the way we prioritize our tasks can make all the difference.