Choosing the Right Initiatives at the Right Time
Choosing The Right Initiatives at the Right Time
SMB leaders: Want to outperform your competition? According to IPM Inc, organizations with clearly defined prioritized initiatives are 16% more likely to climb to the top tier of their industry.
It’s about clarity and consistency that drives resource allocation and gives a “why” to the team. That focus delivers results.
In our last post, we introduced MODA, a simple matrix tool to ensure your initiatives align with your strategic objectives. Now, let’s talk about how to decide which aligned initiatives to prioritize first.
Introducing the “Value Based Scoring Matrix”:
This tool, rooted in Agile practices, helps any business compare multiple initiatives side-by-side to decide which ones deserve resources first.
Like MODA, it’s a simple matrix in a spreadsheet. No expensive software. No complexity.
Using Value Based Scoring (see examples below):
- Define what “Value” means to your business. Common categories include:
- Time to completion
- Revenue impact
- Risk reduction
- Customer or employee satisfaction
- Score each initiative in each category, using a 1–5 or 1–10 scale.
- Total the scores to see which initiatives offer the greatest overall value.
Pro Tip: Weight Your Scores
If certain value categories are more important, assign them a higher weight. This gives your team a nuanced view and helps you break ties between good options.
From Alignment to Prioritization
MODA helps you determine what initiatives are strategically aligned. Value Based Scoring helps you determine which aligned initiatives are the most worthwhile. Use these two tools in sequence and you’ll find yourself making faster, more confident prioritization decisions.
What Better Prioritization Enables
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Faster results with real impact
- Compounding business value
- Focused teams that are confident in their contribution
- Clear direction and intent company wide
- Improved ROI and reduced overhead
Or if you’re an SMB leader looking to apply value-based prioritization, MODA, or other practical ways to sharpen your decision making and strengthen results.