Using Ice Cream to Demystify Business Prioritisation.
The humble 99 ice cream cone serves as a delightful metaphor for understanding the MoSCoW prioritisation framework, transforming a complex business tool into an accessible learning experience.
Breaking Down the Essentials
In analysing a 99’er through MoSCoW, we immediately identify the Must-Haves: vanilla ice cream and the signature Flake chocolate bar – without these elements, it simply isn’t a 99. The Should-Haves include practical elements like card payment functionality, representing features that significantly enhance the product but aren’t deal-breakers.
The Art of Prioritisation
The framework reveals itself naturally through Could-Haves like flavour choices, red sauce, and napkins – nice-to-have elements that improve the experience but aren’t essential to the core offering. Meanwhile, Won’t-Haves such as nuts are explicitly excluded, demonstrating how to set clear boundaries in project scope.
From Ice Cream to Innovation
This playful exercise brilliantly translates to complex technical challenges. When energy sector professionals later apply MoSCoW to their innovation projects, the ice cream analogy serves as a memorable reference point. The simplicity of deciding between ice cream toppings creates a mental model that can be applied to prioritising technical features, regulatory requirements, and resource allocation.
Learning Through Levity
The exercise’s strength lies in its ability to remove the intimidation factor from strategic decision-making. By starting with something as universally understood as ice cream, participants can focus on mastering the prioritisation methodology without being overwhelmed by technical complexity. This foundation then allows for more confident application to sophisticated industry challenges.
This approach demonstrates how seemingly whimsical examples can bridge the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical application, making complex business tools more approachable and memorable.