Priority Setting: Tips and Resource Sheet
The following is a list of practical online resources in the area of priority setting:
1. Diceman, J. (2006). Dotmocracy Handbook. Online, available at:
http://www.dotmocracy.org/download/cooptools_dotmocracy_handbook_1-00.pdf
This document is a handbook of instructions and worksheets for various methods of applying
dotmocracy with groups. Users will also find great facilitation tips and advanced dotmocracy
techniques.
2. Kearns, K. P. (1992). Comparative Advantage to Damage Control: Clarifying Strategic Issues
Using SWOT Analysis. Nonprofit Management and Leadership 3 No. 1 (Fall 1992).
This is an article that provides insight into methods of using SWOT data to analyze, clarify and
prioritize strategic issues.
3. Mind Tools Ltd. (2010). Grid Analysis - making a choice where many factors must be
considered. Online, available at: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_03.htm
This article provides instructions and examples of how to use a grid analysis.
4. Mind Tools Ltd. (2010). Paired Comparison Analysis - Working Out the Relative Importance
of Different Options. Online, available at:
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_02.htm
This is an article that provides instructions, examples and a free downloadable worksheet that
readers can use to apply the paired comparison technique.
5. Mind Tools Ltd. (2010). Using the TOWS Matrix - Developing strategic options from an
external-internal analysis. Online, available at:
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_89.htm
This article provides instructions and examples on how to use SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities and Threats) data within a quadrant analysis format to aid in strategic analysis.
6. Tague, N (2004) The quality toolbox, second edition, ASQ Quality Press, 2004, pages 219223. Online excerpt, ASQ Quality Tools, available at: http://www.asq.org/learn-aboutquality/decision-making-tools/overview/de...
This article explains when and how to use a decision matrix and provides examples. It also
includes a detailed list of considerations as it relates to scales and criteria.
7. The L Group (2003). Effort-Impact Grid. Online, available at:
http://www.thelgroup.com/p_TipsTools/effort.asp
This web page provides a brief explanation of the effort-impact grid and how it is used.
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8. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the NIH Research Priority-Setting Process. Scientific
Opportunities and Public Needs: Improving Priority Setting and Public Input at the National
Institutes of Health. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1998. Available from:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45365/
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) was asked by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) "to conduct
a comprehensive study of the policies and processes used by NIH to determine funding
allocations for biomedical research" in accordance with a congressional provision (U.S.
Congress, 1997a). The U.S. House and U.S. Senate authorization and appropriations
committees requested that IOM present findings, conclusions, and recommendations "for
improvements in the NIH research funding policies and processes and for any necessary
congressional action." Specifically, the congressional committees asked that IOM "assess: the
factors or criteria used by NIH to determine funding allocations for disease research, the
process by which research funding decisions are made, the mechanisms for public input into the
priority-setting process, and the impact of statutory directives on research funding decisions."
9. Priority setting: what constitutes success? A conceptual framework for successful priority
setting. Shannon L Sibbald, Peter A Singer, Ross Upshur, Douglas K Martin BMC Health
Services. 2009; 9: 43. Published online 2009 March 5.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2655292/
The goal of this research was to develop a conceptual framework for successful priority setting.
The ten elements specify both quantitative and qualitative dimensions of priority setting and
relate to both process and outcome components. The ten elements identified in this research
provide guidance for decision makers and a common language to discuss priority setting
success and work toward improving priority setting efforts.
10. Committee on the NIH Research Priority-Setting Process, Institute of Medicine. "Criteria for
Priority Setting." Scientific Opportunities and Public Needs: Improving Priority Setting and Public
Input at the National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press,
1998. www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=6225&page=29
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) was asked by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ''to conduct
a comprehensive study of the policies and processes used by NIH to determine funding
allocations for biomedical research" in accordance with a congressional provision (U.S.
Congress, 1997a).
11. Find out more on setting priorities from the expert - Stephen Covey!
America's number 1 business book, The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective People teaches you how to achieve greater fulfillment in
all areas of your life. With profound insights and incisive
anecdotes, Stephen R. Covey presents the principle-centred,
Inside-Out" approach and outlines a step-by-step path to integrity
and balance.
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Examples that Support Priority Setting
City of Saskatoon, Canada:
In its strategic plan, it chose seven core strategies as themes. Planners than came up with
three priorities per strategy, giving them a total of 21 specific, clear priorities for change within
the calendar year. These were then used as guides to each department’s annual plan, as well
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as to the city’s budgeting decisions. (The Systems Thinking Approach to Strategic Planning and
Management, Stephen G. Haines, 2000 by CRC Press LLC., pg 234.)
The following is an example of a prioritization paper for the release of new software.
www.processimpact.com/articles/prioritizing.html
First Things First: Prioritizing Requirements, Karl E. Wiegers, Process Impact
www.processimpact.com
Customers are never thrilled to find out they can’t get all the features they want in release 1.0 of
a new software product (at least, not if they want the features to work). However, if the
development team cannot deliver every requirement by the scheduled initial delivery date, the
project stakeholders must agree on which subset to implement first. Any project with resource
limitations has to establish the relative priorities of the requested features, use cases, or
functional requirements. Prioritization helps the project manager resolve conflicts, plan for
staged deliveries, and make the necessary trade-off decisions.