Urgency Morgen Way

[IpsmLorem]

What do you think about the Morgen way to compute urgency ?

https://www.morgen.so/blog-posts/rethinking-task-prioritization-introducing-the-morgen-priority-factor

Quote :

A Principled Approach to MPF
The MPF model is computed based on several principles informed by behavior science, practical task management, and usage patterns.

1. Deadlines come first: Tasks with imminent due dates are prioritized, regardless of their importance.

2. Importance amplifies priority: Between two tasks with similar deadlines, the more important one is prioritized. High-impact tasks naturally rise to the top.

3. Unscheduled tasks stay relevant: Tasks without due dates are interpreted as to be done when time is available. These are prioritized over tasks with distant deadlines but fall behind those due soon.

4. Urgency diminishes over time for overdue tasks*: Repeatedly ignored tasks gradually decrease in priority, reflecting their declining relevance.

5. Recent activity signals relevance: Recent edits or reviews of tasks signal relevance, thereby receiving a small priority boost.

6. Quick wins are encouraged: Short tasks receive higher priority to build momentum. Completing these can provide a psychological boost and clear mental space for larger challenges.

7. Uncertainty requires attention: Tasks with unclear or underestimated duration are prioritized to reduce the risk of overruns.

Your approach to work is highly personal, shaped by your goals, workflows, and preferences. An ideal tool should allow users to tune the underlying assumptions that set their priorities. We’re working toward an adjustable model in which users will be able to turn the weight of each dimension up or down, providing greater personalization.

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*Overdue Tasks Lose Urgency Over Time
The most controversial aspect of our prioritization model is the assumption that overdue tasks lose urgency over time.

We treat due dates as strict with an assumption that the success of completing the task is contingent on meeting the deadline. This is why due dates are the most heavily weighted factor in calculating MPF, giving precedence to tasks with clear deadlines.

We recognize that in some cases due dates are critical, whereas in other instances they are targets. When tasks with deadlines are repeatedly ignored we interpret that to mean the deadline was not strict.

This may happen for a variety of reasons

1. Shifting priorities: New tasks demand immediate attention, sidelining overdue tasks.

2. Flexible deadlines: The original due date was aspirational and self-imposed, with low consequences if missed.

3. External factors: Circumstances influencing the task's urgency may have shifted. For instance, if a client extends their timeline, a task of yours on which they are dependent may lose urgency.

How Morgen handles this
Morgen dynamically adapts MPF for overdue tasks to reflect shifts in relevance.

1. Initial weight: When a task's due date is near or just passed, it retains a high MPF. In these cases, we assume the due date is strict.

2. Decay mechanism: If the task remains overdue and is repeatedly ignored, the MPF gradually decreases. This doesn’t mean the task is forgotten—it simply acknowledges that the due date may not have been as critical as originally thought.

3. Long-term equilibrium: Eventually, the MPF of an overdue task converges to the same level as tasks without a due date, signaling that it can be addressed when convenient.

For example, imagine you set a due date for completing an internal training module by this Friday. If the deadline passes and the task remains incomplete, MPF considers it urgent for a short period. However, if you continue to push it off in favor of other tasks, its priority level begins to decrease. This decay reflects that the deadline wasn't as strict or significant as initially presumed. The task stays on your radar but is no longer prioritized over more pressing items.

The benefit of this approach
This dynamic system reflects the reality of modern workflows. By acknowledging the flexibility of certain deadlines, Morgen reduces unnecessary pressure while still keeping tasks visible. It balances the rigor of honoring deadlines with the practicality of shifting priorities, ensuring that your task list adapts to your needs without becoming overwhelming.

After all, deadlines matter—but only as much as they do to you.

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[claremacrae]

Yes, I was aware of this, and I can see its benefits.

By the way, Morgen now supports tasks in Obsidian vaults on desktop... It requires the Tasks plugin, and uses its syntax.

So if you are happy with Morgen's privacy policies (which I am not totally familiar with) and you have the right Morgen subscription, you could use the above on your tasks in Obsidian.