What it is for: An impact effort matrix is a two-by-two grid where a team places each option by how much good it is expected to do and how much work it will take. The team leaves with every option placed on a shared grid, a reason and evidence noted for each, and a short list of options to take forward along with what must be checked first.
Who it helps: Teams and leaders with a long list of ideas or improvements who need to decide fast what to do first and what to pause.
When to use it
You have ten or more ideas from a workshop and need to decide which to take forward.
A team is overloaded and needs to agree what to pause.
Leaders want a fast, visible way to compare improvement options in a review meeting.
How to use it
Agree what impact and effort mean, with two or three reference points for each.
Write each option on its own card and merge duplicates.
Place options one at a time, with the placer giving one sentence of reasoning.
Record the evidence behind each placement and flag those based only on opinion.
Read the grid for quick wins and big bets, and list what to check before committing.
Tip: Fix the meaning of both axes before placing a single card. Most arguments come from different scales.
Credits and sources: Original Tiremesù worksheet and wording. Further reading: LUMA Institute https://www.luma-institute.com/about-luma/luma-system-explore-methods/
Full guide and film:https://www.tiremesu.com/guides/impact-effort-matrix
