Prioritize any insights that were uncovered during research so the team can use them to make informed product decisions
Phases
Suggested Time
1-2 hours
Participants
Core team
Why do it?
Insight Prioritization helps us understand “what are the first set of problems that need solving?”. It looks at insights—“aha!” moments where critical thinking results in a meaningful conclusion—in order to help provide color to our problem space and eventual solutions.
When to do it?
During Discovery & Framing, after conducting and synthesizing exploratory research.
What supplies are needed?
- Whiteboard or digital version like Miro
- Painter’s tape
- Any insights you’ve identified in previous workshops
How to Use this Method
Sample Agenda & Prompts
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Gather all the insights you discovered from research
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If there are many (roughly 20+), first do a culling exercise by asking yourselves “Will this insight help me make an informed product decision for this project or consulting engagement period?” Sort each Insight into a “No” or “Yes” pile on the wall
Tip: You can clarify this prompt further by adding additional context: “Could you use this insight to create or modify solutions? Can it be re-framed into a useful “how might we …” statement?”
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Once you have a simplified list, create a 2×2 with the painter’s tape and label the axes as follows:
- X-Axis → Smaller Size of Opportunity (left) to Greater Size of Opportunity (right)
- Y-Axis → Less Useful for Making Product Decisions (bottom) to More Useful for Making Product Decisions (top)
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Plot the “Yes” insights on the 2×2, striving to end with a list of the top 3-5 insights
Tip: If the top right quadrant is packed with insights, draw a second 2×2 within that quadrant and discuss what has fallen out—with some additional conversation, the team will generally agree that the new top right quadrant truly does have the highest priority insights
Success/Expected Outcomes
Success is achieved when the team agrees to the top 3-5 Insights on which it will focus
