Action Priority Matrix Template
Prioritize tasks to focus on, depending on impact and effort.
About the Action Priority Matrix Template
An action priority matrix is a grid that enables you to prioritize tasks to best use your time, skills, efforts, and talent.
Members of cross-functional teams rarely have time to finish every request made or project started. Mindfully choosing what to invest time and effort in, you can move forward on high-value tasks and leave behind those that don’t make a noticeable impact or contribution.
What is an action priority matrix?
An action priority matrix helps you prioritize tasks based on their impact and the effort required to complete them.
This matrix usually has four quadrants:
Quick wins (high impact, low effort): Focus on these – the projects that give you a broad return on investment of little time or effort.
Major projects (high impact, high effort): Bigger tasks that offer potentially high returns on investment but are more time-consuming (and can overshadow any quick wins).
Fill-ins (low impact, low effort): Delegate these tasks, or focus on them only if you have spare time.
Thankless tasks (low impact, high effort): Best to avoid – time- and energy-consuming tasks that are best ignored to focus instead on quick wins.
You can score each task on the grid from 0 (low impact, high effort) to 10 (maximum impact, maximum effort). This system can help you more precisely plot the grid, and make it easier to determine your priorities.
When to use an action priority matrix
Product teams (and anyone collaborating with product managers) can use the action priority matrix to:
Measure impact (such as sales, profitability, morale, customer perception) against effort (such as time, costs, legal obstacles, organizational complexity)
Help teams or individual contributors move forward by prioritizing a large group of tasks or ideas
Encourage teams or individual contributors to make decisions based on their expertise and experience rather than external factors
Figure out a reasonable impact-to-effort ratio for potential ideas and solutions
As a time management tool, action priority matrixes enable you to visualize how to focus your energy on what will benefit your team and individual contributions.
Create your own action priority matrix
Making your own action priority matrix is easy. Miro is the perfect tool to create and share it. Get started by selecting the Action Priority Matrix Template, then take the following steps to make one of your own.
1. Ask your team to generate new ideas or tasks on sticky notes. Team members can use color-coded sticky notes and to record their ideas for high- and low-priority tasks.
2. Pick a group facilitator to sort through the ideas. The facilitator (for instance, a lead or manager) can review each task and reassign it to a relevant quadrant. If multiple ideas sound similar, combine them instead into one succinct sticky note.
3. Ask your colleagues what would help them accomplish each task. Do they need extra time, support, or other resources to bring an idea to life? Get additional input from team members to see if a major project or fill-in task could use a boost to make it easier to complete.
4. Plot the ideas on the chart as a group. As a group, rearrange your sticky note ideas based on feasibility and importance. Keep an eye on what tasks or ideas end up being high- or low-priority. You can also score each task on a scale of 1 to 10, ranging from low effort or importance to maximum effort and importance.
5. Assign tasks to group members accordingly – and follow up to keep the momentum going. You can use to assign relevant tasks by tagging individual team members. You can also use to tag project members or others a specific board or project has been shared with. Revisit the board anytime priorities change, to realign your team.
Get started with this template right now.
Product Metrics & Analytics
Works best for:
Product Management, Planning
The Compelling Product Offer template assists product teams in defining and measuring key product metrics effectively. By identifying performance indicators, setting benchmarks, and tracking progress, this template enables teams to evaluate the success of product initiatives objectively. With sections for defining KPIs, visualizing data, and analyzing trends, it provides actionable insights for driving product improvements and optimizations. This template serves as a dashboard for monitoring product performance and making data-driven decisions that enhance the overall product offering.
Priority Matrix Template
Works best for:
Business Management, Strategic Planning, Prioritization
If you need a little more than a basic to-do list, then you’d probably benefit from a Priority Matrix. The Priority Matrix template is designed to help you determine which tasks are critical so you can focus on the most urgent needs. In a 2x2 matrix, input your priorities based on whether they must be completed with high or low urgency and are of high or low importance. Applicable to project management and personal management alike, use the Priority Matrix template to improve business processes, create efficiency, remove blockers, and reduce operational waste.
B2B – Product Journey Map & User Network
Works best for:
Planning, Product Management
The B2B Product Journey Map & User Network template helps product teams visualize and understand the complex journey of B2B customers. By mapping user interactions, pain points, and touchpoints across the buyer's journey, this template provides insights into user behavior and preferences. With sections for analyzing user needs, identifying opportunities, and optimizing user experiences, it enables teams to design tailored solutions and drive customer satisfaction. This template serves as a strategic tool for enhancing B2B product offerings and maximizing customer value.
Mandala Chart Template
Works best for:
Planning, Brainstorming, Goal setting
The Mandala Chart Template helps you visualize the relationships between a central theme and its sub-themes. One of the key benefits is how it fosters a holistic understanding of any topic. This perspective ensures every detail is noticed, making it an invaluable asset for those aiming for comprehensive insight and thorough planning or a better understanding of their goals.
How Now Wow Matrix Template
Works best for:
Ideation, Product Management, Prioritization
There are no bad ideas in a brainstorm — but some are more original and easier to implement. The How Now Wow matrix is a tool that helps you identify and organize those great ideas, as well as reinvigorates your team to think creatively and take risks (a taller order as you scale). Grab this template to create your own matrix, then rank the ideas you generated in a brainstorm as “How” (difficult to implement), “Now” (easy to implement), or “Wow” (both original and easy to implement).
Look Mock Analyze Template
Works best for:
Design, Desk Research, Product Management
Doing your homework (aka, the research) is a key step in your design process, and the Look, Mock, Analyze approach helps you examine, structure, and streamline that step. With this powerful tool you’ll be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses, what you did right or wrong, and whether you spent time efficiently. Our Look, Mock, Analyze template makes it so easy for you to discover inspiration, mock up designs, and get feedback — you can start by setting up your board in less than a minute.