Impact vs. Effort Matrix

This tool helps to indicate where the time and effort should be spent and allows you to create a priority list.

Steps:

• Begin by creating a list of all the items that need to be sorted (e.g., tasks for a project, new programming, research questions).
• With your team members, discuss each item, and explore as a team where it belongs on the impact axis (low to high) and where it belongs on the effort access (difficult to easy).
• Plot each item on the matrix. If you are on a virtual platform, you can share your screen with a virtual whiteboard where the members of the team can annotate the screen. If you are in person, you can create the matrix on a large poster paper and hang it up, so members are able to view the matrix.
• Once finished, the grid presents a nice visual that can guide action going forward. For example, Items in Priority A can be considered quick wins as they are high impact and lower effort, while items in Priority D may be excluded from the workplan as they are difficult to implement and yield little impact.