Free impact-effort matrix maker

What is an impact-effort matrix?

An impact-effort matrix, also called an action priority matrix or value vs effort matrix, is a 2×2 grid. The vertical axis is impact, the horizontal axis is effort. Each idea lands in one of four quadrants, which tells you what to do with it.

Sources for the other names: ProductPlan, "Action Priority Matrix" (action priority matrix); Atlassian, "Prioritization frameworks" (value vs effort).

• Quick wins

  High impact, low effort. Do these first.

• Strategic

  High impact, high effort. Plan them as bigger projects.

• Reconsider

  Low impact, low effort. Fill-ins when there is spare time.

• Avoid

  Low impact, high effort. Usually not worth doing.

Some guides name the quadrants quick wins, major projects, fill-ins and thankless tasks; they mean the same four boxes. Source: ProductPlan, "Action Priority Matrix".

How to score impact and effort

Score each idea on two questions: how much would it move your goal, and what would it cost to do? Rough answers are enough, as long as you answer them the same way for every idea.

• Write the goal down first. Impact only means something against one goal. If ideas serve different goals, give each goal its own matrix.
• Count every kind of effort. Effort is time, money and people, plus the risk and coordination an idea needs, not only hours of work.
• Compare, don't calculate. You don't need a score out of ten. Place each idea relative to its neighbours: is it more or less valuable, more or less work?
• Place first, discuss second. You can have each person place ideas on their own before the group talks, so the first opinion voiced doesn't anchor everyone else.
• Split ideas that sit on a line. An idea on a divider is often two ideas: a small first step and a bigger follow-up. Split it and place each part.

How to run an impact-effort session

You can run a session on your own with the free maker above, or with a group. These steps work either way.

1. Agree the goal and write it where everyone can see it.
2. Collect every idea without judging it. Quantity first.
3. For each idea, ask: how much would this move the goal? That is impact.
4. Then ask: how much time, money or people would it take? That is effort.
5. Place it, compare it with its neighbours, and adjust.
6. Decide: start with the quick wins, turn the strategic ideas into a plan, keep the reconsider ideas for spare time, and drop or rethink the avoid ideas.
7. Revisit the matrix when you learn something new; an idea can move.

Running it with a group in Prioritas

In Prioritas, your team joins by scanning a QR code and places ideas together, live. A session takes up to 50 participants. Facilitators can pause and resume a session, or end it. Agree impact and effort together, then turn the quick wins and strategic bets into a roadmap you can export.

Continue in Prioritas

Weighing this tool against a spreadsheet or whiteboard template? Compare free impact-effort matrix templates.

Worked examples

Two example matrices, six ideas each. Download either as a CSV to start your own.

Common mistakes

• Judging ideas while collecting them. Criticism during the brainstorm cuts the list short. Collect first, then place.
• Mixing goals on one matrix. An idea can be high impact for one goal and low for another. One matrix, one goal.
• Treating effort as hours only. A cheap idea that needs three teams to agree is not low effort.
• Letting one voice place everything. Place ideas individually, then discuss the ones where people disagree.
• Dropping the reconsider quadrant on day one. Low impact, low effort ideas are cheap fill-ins when there is spare capacity.

Questions