Imported from igmarin/agent-profiles (plugins/elixir-developer/resources/planning/skills/prioritize-backlog/SKILL.md). Install upstream with npx skills add igmarin/agent-profiles --skill prioritize-backlog. Copyright stays with the author (MIT).

Prioritizing a Backlog

Rank work items by impact and urgency using a framework — not gut feeling.

HARD-GATE

• Understand each item's impact and effort before scoring.
• Provide criteria for each dimension.
• Force relative ordering; avoid marking everything "high priority".
• Every ranking decision needs a stated reason.

Core Process

1. Receive ticket/feature list.
2. Detect or choose framework (RICE, MoSCoW, value-vs-effort, WSJF).
3. Score each item using the framework's dimensions (see Inline Scoring Criteria).
4. Order by score; break ties by strategic alignment or dependencies.
5. Flag items needing clarification or with dependency constraints.
6. Output ordered backlog.

Inline Scoring Criteria

RICE

Reach × Impact × Confidence ÷ Effort (higher = higher priority). Dimensions: Reach (#users/quarter), Impact (0.25–3), Confidence (50/80/100%), Effort (person-weeks).

MoSCoW

• Must, Should, Could, Won't.

Value-vs-Effort

2×2 matrix: Quick wins (high value/low effort) → do first.

WSJF

(User value + Time criticality + Risk reduction) ÷ Job size (each 1–10).

Output

• Framework used and why.
• Ordered table: Rank, Item, Score, Rationale.
• Framework breakdown (per-item dimensions) for scored frameworks.
• Flagged items and notes.

Integration

• plan-tickets: prioritize tickets after drafting
• plan-sprint: use ordered backlog to select sprint candidates
• estimate-tasks: estimates feed effort-based frameworks