Technique 2.92 Prioritisation Table/Matrix
Introduction
"...good problem solving is just as much about what you don't do as what you do, and good prioritisation in problem solving makes solutions come faster and with less effort..."\
Charles Conn et al 2018
Sequence
Place factors/challenges, etc in 1 of the 4 quadrants depending upon impact (high/low) and ability to influence (high/low)
|
Impact
|
High
|
1
|
3
|
|
|
Low
|
2
|
4
|
|
|
|
Low
|
High
|
|
|
|
Ability to
|
Influence
|
Filling in this table demands a focus on factors in quadrant 3 (high impact and high ability to influence) rather than other quadrants. Factors in quadrant 2 (low impact and low ability to influence) should be the lowest priority.
Some prioritisation decisions are easy while others can be hard.
Sometimes the factors will need to be broken down into smaller and more manageable components plus into an apt timescale, ie short term, medium-term, long-term, and degree of urgency (high/low)
(source: Charles Conn et al 2018)
An alternative way of prioritising is based on degree of urgency and importance; with the more urgent and important receiving top priority.
Priority Matrix
Q1= Urgent/Important Q2 = Not Urgent/Important
Q3 = Urgent/Not Important Q4 = Not Urgent/Not Important
(source: Rachel Moore, 2022)