Participatory Methods

Feature prioritization

The Feature Prioritization activity enables participants to identify and prioritize the most crucial elements for a design, project, or system. Through structured discussion and visual tools, participants assess the relevance, impact, and feasibility of various features or characteristics, reaching a consensus on which aspects should be implemented first.

Preparation

  1. Define the purpose: Clarify which features will be prioritized, such as in a product, service, system, or project.
  2. Generate an initial list: Prepare a preliminary list of features or characteristics for evaluation, or create space for participants to propose them during the activity.
  3. Prepare tools:
    • Boards, templates, or matrices to organize the features.
    • Markers, sticky notes, or digital resources for an online version.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Introduction to the purpose
    • Explain the objective: to identify key features and establish clear priorities for implementation.
    • Define the criteria for prioritization, such as:
      • Impact: How important is this feature for users or the project?
      • Feasibility: How easy is it to implement with the available resources?
      • Urgency: How soon is this feature needed?
  2. Presentation of features
    • Present the initial list of features or invite participants to suggest new ideas.
    • Clarify the scope of each feature and its relevance within the project.
  3. Individual or group evaluation
    • Each participant evaluates the features based on the established criteria.
    • Use tools like matrices (impact vs. feasibility) or voting systems (e.g., sticky dots, colored tokens) to gather group preferences.
  4. Discussion and consensus
    • Facilitate a group dialogue on the most voted or highlighted features.
    • Invite participants to justify their choices and reflect on the order of implementation.
    • Adjust the priorities based on the group consensus.
  5. Building the prioritized list
    • Organize the features into a final list, highlighting:
      • High priority: Implement immediately.
      • Medium priority: Important but not urgent.
      • Low priority: Consider for the long term or if resources allow.
  6. Closure and future planning
    • Summarize the decisions made and document the prioritized list.
    • Define next steps, such as assigning responsibilities or setting timelines for implementation.
Recommendations
  • Clear criteria: Ensure that participants understand the criteria for evaluating functionalities.
  • Documentation: Record the final priorities and justifications for future reference.
  • Active facilitation: Mediate discussions to ensure all viewpoints are considered.
  • Iteration: Review and adjust priorities as project needs or available resources change.
Materials
  • Large paper, whiteboards, or printed matrices.
  • Markers, sticky notes, or tokens for voting.
Online platforms
Purpose
The purpose of Feature Prioritization is to ensure that available resources are focused on the most important, relevant, and feasible elements of a design, project, or system, achieving a significant impact on users and project objectives.
Type of activity
Participatory DesignParticipatory EvaluationParticipatory Planning
Level of participation
Collaboration, Shared decision-making, Knowledge generation
Target audience
Students, Community leaders, NGOs and social collectives, Business teams, Government, Creative designers, Researchers
Fields of application
Community development, Organizational and business management, Urban and rural planning, Health and social well-being, Art, culture, and creativity, Sustainability and environment, Public policies and governance, Innovation and design, Research and evaluation, Technology and digital environments, Citizen and social participation
Estimated duration
From 10 to 120 minutes, depending on the number of features and the chosen format.
Ideal number of participants
From 5 to 20 people, to facilitate analysis and discussion.
Topics related to this activity
Citizen ParticipationCollaborative ToolCollective AnalysisCollective EvaluationContinuous ImprovementInclusive ParticipationKnowledge GenerationParticipatory AnalysisParticipatory DesignPerspective ExchangePriority IdentificationProject ManagementVisual MethodologyVisual Tool
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