Dual prioritization: A key enabler of iterative and incremental development

Abstract

The iterative-incremental lifecycle is often misapplied in software development, with teams frequently adopting a merely incremental approach that fails to revisit previously developed components in order to follow an iterative development. This paper introduces the concept of "dual prioritization” as a key enabler for truly iterative and incremental process. The first level of prioritization organizes high-level requirements (e.g., use cases or epics) based on value, while the second prioritization is applied to their constituent features. We argue that without this two-tiered prioritization, it is impossible to construct effective backlogs for delivering Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) or Minimum Marketable Products (MMPs). Through a concrete example and visual representation, we demonstrate how dual prioritization improves delivery value and supports better decision-making under constraints such as time or budget. The paper concludes by outlining avenues for applying dual prioritization with alternative elicitation and prioritization techniques.