Prioritization matrix

A prioritization matrix is a tool that can be used to help teams prioritize ideas based on specific criteria. It helps reduce options by identifying the ideas that will have the biggest impact or provide the most value to users.

Here are the steps to using a prioritization matrix to reduce options:

• Define the criteria to evaluate the options. These criteria should be based on the goals of the project and the needs of users. For example, a team is designing a new mobile app for a fitness company, and they have come up with a list of potential features, including workout tracking, social sharing, and nutrition tracking. To prioritize these features, the team defines three criteria: potential impact on user engagement, technical feasibility, and cost.
• Once the criteria have been defined, the team can score each option on each criterion using a scale, such as 1-5, with 5 being the highest score. The scores for each option are then multiplied by a weight that represents the relative importance of each criterion. For example, user engagement might be given a weight of 50%, while technical feasibility and cost might each be given a weight of 25%.
• The scores for each option are then tallied, and the options with the highest scores are prioritized for further development or inclusion in the final design.^[1]

Participants can use a prioritization matrix to rank ideas based on different attributes such as dots, stars, and dollars. Each attribute represents a different aspect of the idea's value or impact:

• Dots represent the feasibility or technical viability of an idea
• Stars can be used to represent the desirability or potential customer impact of an idea
• Dollars can represent the economic value or financial impact of an idea