Also called: Prioritisation Matrix, Decision Matrix
Alternative plays: Golden Path
Follow-up plays: Assumptions Mapping, Trade-off Sliders
Timing: Planning
Origin: Dwight Eisenhower, 1954
Prep time
5 minutes
Run time
30-60 minutes
Group size
3-12
Why: Address decision paralysis by aligning collective focus on what needs to be done
When: When your team is struggling to determine where to focus efforts for maximum impact
This workshop exercise is part of the Workshop Patterns printed card deck.
A collection of workshop exercises that will help you ditch dull meetings and facilitate with confidence. It will help you master the design process and have more productive time with your team. The card deck will be ready for purchase in the end of 2025 and is now undergoing rigorous testing.
Reserve your deck!Instructions for running this play
- Draw 2x2. Sketch two intersecting lines to create a quadrant on your large surface.
- Set Criteria. Choose two important criteria that will guide your prioritization. This could be Impact vs. Effort, Risk vs. Knowledge, Urgency vs. Importance, etc. Label the horizontal and vertical axes with these criteria.
- Prepare the list. Transfer the items to be prioritized to sticky notes. One item per sticky note.
- Plot items. Place each item on the map by evaluating each one against your two chosen criteria. Ask the question, “Is this more or less than the other one?” to understand the relative importance or weight of each item.
- Discussion. Encourage group discussion as you rank items. It is OK to move past plotted items to a new location during the exercise.
Tips to perfect this play
Master and adapt the play to fit your context and needs.
Tip
Priority mapping is not just about ranking - it's about understanding what matters most to your team.
Tip
If there are too many items to prioritize, divide them into categories first and run separate priority mapping sessions for each category.
Tip
Involve different stakeholders in separate sessions to see if there are variations in how priorities are mapped.
Tip
Invite customers to take part in mapping out what problems willl yielld the biggest value for them.
This workshop exercise is part of the Workshop Patterns printed card deck.
A collection of workshop exercises that will help you ditch dull meetings and facilitate with confidence. It will help you master the design process and have more productive time with your team. The card deck will be ready for purchase in the end of 2025 and is now undergoing rigorous testing.
Reserve your deck!Related plays
- Avoid the 'Urgency Trap' with the Eisenhower Matrix
- Priority Map by Charles Burdett
