Strategic Prioritization

Stop guessing what to work on next. Plot your tasks by Impact and Effort to uncover your Quick Wins and Strategic Bets.

Add Priority

Your Priorities (0)

No items added yet.

Priority Matrix

Quick Wins

Strategic

Fill-ins

Thankless

IMPACT

EFFORT

Quick Wins

Strategic
Initiatives

Fill-ins

Thankless
Tasks

Mastering the Impact/Effort Matrix

What is an Impact/Effort Matrix?

The Impact/Effort Matrix (also called the Priority Matrix or 2x2 Matrix) is a decision-making framework that helps teams prioritize tasks based on two dimensions: the potential impact or value of a task, and the effort or resources required to complete it. By plotting items on this matrix, you can quickly identify where to focus your limited time and resources for maximum return.

Understanding the Four Quadrants

⭐ Quick Wins (High Impact, Low Effort)

These are your top priorities. High value with minimal investment. Do these first to build momentum and demonstrate results quickly.

🎯 Strategic Bets (High Impact, High Effort)

Major projects worth the investment. Plan these carefully, break into phases, and allocate dedicated resources. These drive long-term success.

📝 Fill-Ins (Low Impact, Low Effort)

Nice-to-haves when you have spare capacity. Good for junior team members or slow periods. Don't prioritize these over higher-impact work.

❌ Time Sinks (Low Impact, High Effort)

Avoid these or deprioritize heavily. They consume resources without proportional returns. Often these can be simplified, automated, or eliminated.

How to Use This Tool Effectively

List all your tasks or initiatives: Don't filter yet—get everything on the table first.
Score each on Impact (1-10): Consider revenue potential, user value, strategic importance, or risk reduction.
Score each on Effort (1-10): Factor in time, cost, complexity, dependencies, and team capacity.
Plot on the matrix: The tool automatically places items in the appropriate quadrant.
Discuss and refine: Use the visualization to facilitate team discussions about priorities.
Take action: Start with Quick Wins, schedule Strategic Bets, and reconsider Time Sinks.

Related Prioritization Frameworks

RICE Score: Reach × Impact × Confidence ÷ Effort. Adds nuance for product teams by considering reach and confidence.

MoSCoW Method: Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have. Great for scope negotiation with stakeholders.

Eisenhower Matrix: Urgent vs. Important. Focuses on time management and delegation decisions.

Weighted Scoring: Custom criteria with weights. More complex but allows for nuanced multi-factor decisions.

💡 Pro Tip: Calibrate as a Team

Impact and effort assessments are subjective. One person's "high effort" is another's "medium." Calibrate by discussing a few items together before scoring independently. This builds shared understanding and makes the resulting prioritization more credible across the team.