What is the most effective way to prioritize ideas during a CPS session?

1 Criteria-based ranking

One of the most common and simple methods to prioritize ideas is to use a set of criteria that reflect the goals and constraints of your problem. For example, you can use criteria such as feasibility, originality, impact, cost, and alignment with your vision. You can assign a score or a rank to each idea based on how well it meets each criterion, and then add up the scores or ranks to get a total value. The higher the value, the higher the priority. You can use a matrix or a spreadsheet to organize and compare your ideas based on these criteria.

3 Impact-effort matrix

A more sophisticated and strategic method to prioritize ideas is to use an impact-effort matrix. This is a tool that helps you evaluate your ideas based on two dimensions: the potential impact they can have on your problem, and the amount of effort they require to implement. You can plot your ideas on a four-quadrant matrix, where the upper right quadrant represents the high-impact, low-effort ideas, the upper left quadrant represents the high-impact, high-effort ideas, the lower right quadrant represents the low-impact, low-effort ideas, and the lower left quadrant represents the low-impact, high-effort ideas. The priority of your ideas depends on your resources, timeline, and objectives. Generally, you want to focus on the upper right quadrant first, then the upper left quadrant, then the lower right quadrant, and avoid the lower left quadrant.

5 Active listening

Whichever method you choose to prioritize your ideas, you need to practice active listening skills during the CPS session. Active listening is a skill that involves paying attention, showing interest, asking questions, clarifying doubts, summarizing points, and providing feedback to the speaker. Active listening can help you understand the rationale and the value of each idea, as well as the emotions and motivations of the participants. Active listening can also help you build trust, rapport, and collaboration among the group, and foster a positive and constructive atmosphere for the CPS session. Active listening can enhance the quality and the outcome of your prioritization process.