A Boston Matrix for simple prioritisation (template)

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to prioritise your lists of marketing tactics, or even your own actions or ‘to-dos’, then this version of the Boston Matrix is for you.

A Boston Matrix is a tool that was developed by the Boston Consulting Group in the 1970s, to help people review their organisation’s different products and then prioritise what to do with them next.

This version of the Boston Matrix uses the scales of ‘Effort’ (time/cost/difficulty) versus ‘Impact’ (what can be achieved).

The categories

It’s a very quick way to give you a basic form of prioritisation and helps you to categorise tactics into:

• Quick wins – do these now as they are easier and deliver impact
• Major projects – will give you impact, but take more effort to do
• Friday afternoon tasks – asks you can do when you have more time
• Park for later tasks – currently do not seem worth you spending any time pursuing

Boston Matrix template

We have created a blank template for you to download and use – simply draw the matrix on a whiteboard or use Post-its on a wall with the labels of the scales written on them.