Nonpriority

Nonpriority is a label used to describe items, tasks, or resources that do not have assigned priority or are considered lower priority than others. It is not a formal, universal concept with a single definition; its meaning varies by domain and organizational convention.

In project management and workflow systems, nonpriority tasks are typically deferred or scheduled for later work when higher-priority tasks are completed or capacity allows. In scheduling or queue management, non-priority items may be placed in a lower-priority queue and subject to longer wait times or preemption by higher-priority tasks. In service delivery or triage contexts, nonpriority can refer to requests deemed non-urgent or optional, carrying the expectation of lower immediacy.

Terminology around nonpriority is informal, and definitions differ across organizations. Some teams use it as a tag or category, while others rely on numeric scores, color codes, or explicit criteria to distinguish nonpriority items from those requiring immediate attention. The lack of a universal standard can lead to ambiguity unless it is tied to clear guidelines and processes.

Best practices for handling nonpriority include establishing explicit criteria that determine when an item becomes a priority, setting realistic timeframes for review, and implementing periodic checks to prevent neglect. It is also helpful to document how nonpriority interacts with overall service levels, resource constraints, and escalation paths.

See also: prioritization, priority queue, scheduling, queueing theory, workflow management, triage.