Business Value

Business Value indicates User Story importance from the customer’s point of view. The most valuable User Stories should be implemented as early as possible in the development process. It is also possible to specify Business Values for other work items such as Bugs, Features, Epics, Requests, Test Plans and Test Cases.

Here is the example of a simple project backlog that lists User Stories and their Business Values:

In the detailed view of every supported entity, Business Value is displayed and can be modified in the Info panel on the right side of its detailed view.

Business Value vs Rank

It is important to note that User Stories' Business Value and Rank parameters (aka order, aka numeric priority) are completely independent. Sometimes a product owner may decide that a User Story with a Nice To Have Business Value should be implemented first. For this purpose, he can prioritize the backlog and assign a high rank to the User Story with low business value.

Business Values on Views

Customize Cards and Columns

It is possible to display Business Value for every work item on its card. Customize cards in the settings of your view for this purpose.

As a result, on the cards in your board, list, or roadmap view their Business Value will be shown.

Filters

You can filter entities in views based on their Business value. It is possible to use both name and the numeric importance value in these filters.

This filter displays only cards with a High value:

?BusinessValue is 'High'
?BusinessValue is not 'Nice to Have'

This filter displays only cards with Business Value having an Importance equal to 1, 2, 3. High numbers mean lower business values. Entities with higher numeric values are hidden.

?BusinessValue.Importance == 1
?BusinessValue.Importance <= 3

Sorting

Entities on views can be sorted according to their Business Values.

On board view, use Sort selector in Actions → Set up View → Setup tab.

On list view, press onto header name to sort rows by column values:

Visual Encoding

It is possible to configure red-amber-green (RAG) color coding based on business values:

?BusinessValue is 'Must Have'
?BusinessValue is 'Great'
?BusinessValue is 'Good'
?BusinessValue is 'Average'
?BusinessValue is 'Nice To Have'

Grouping cards by lanes

It is possible to distribute cards on board view by lanes (columns or rows) representing their Business Values. It helps to plan your backlog and perform Feature mapping and Release planning effectively.

Business Values in Reports

Tabular Reports

Business Value is available in assignable entities (User Stories, Bugs, Tasks, Features, Epics) in Tabular Reports.

Visual Reports

Priority field is available for Business Values of assignable entities (User Stories, Bugs, Tasks, Features, Epics) in Visual Reports editor.

Values can be sorted alphabetically. In order to sort bars according to the numeric importance of Business Values (ascending or descending) please define and use the custom formula:

Priority.Importance

Calculated Custom Fields

In Calculated Custom Fields it is possible to refer to the Name and numeric Importance of Business Value assigned to an entity. The "Priority" alias is used for this purpose.

IIF(Priority.Name == "Must Have", 1, 0)
IIF(Priority.Importance <= 3, "Important", "Not Important")

Service Desk

In Service Desk users specify Priority per each Request they submit. Priority options are actually configured as Business Values for Requests in Targetprocess.

Priority in Add Request form of Service Desk:

The options are the same as Business Values for Request entity in Targetprocess settings.

REST API

In REST API filter you have to use the "Priority" alias when you would like to filter entities by their assigned Business Value:

/api/v1/userstories?where=Priority.Name eq "Must Have"
/api/v1/userstories?where=Priority.Importance eq "2"

How to customize Business Values

Administrators have permission to customize Business Values in your account.

Navigate to Settings → Business Values.

Modify existing Business Values, remove redundant options, and add missing ones. Set the Name, Entity Type, and Importance for each value, make a Business Value Default if you want.

Default is the Business Value assigned to all newly created entities.

Numeric Importance allows to compare and order entities according to their Business Value. A higher numeric value for Importance means a lower priority.