The Revisited Impact / Effort Matrix is a visual and strategic tool that helps teams and organizations make better prioritization decisions by surfacing assumptions, risks, and real-world constraints behind their initiatives.
It is built around a rethinking of the classic Impact / Effort logic, replacing “Effort” with “Ease” and reshaping the quadrants to better reflect feasibility, uncertainty, and learning.
In this template, you’ll find:
A short introduction explaining why the classic matrix often fails and what this version changes;
A layered matrix layout that starts simple and then reveals a more nuanced structure;
A lightweight workshop format to guide teams through mapping, discussion, and refinement.
The matrix is especially valuable for:
Product, innovation, and strategy teams deciding what to build next;
Leadership teams aligning on priorities and investment choices;
Portfolio and roadmap owners managing competing initiatives;
Facilitators, coaches, and consultants supporting better decision-making.
