Eisenhower Decision Matrix
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== Abstract == | == Abstract == | ||
| − | Prioritising work tasks as an individual or a team is crucial for ensuring success and | + | Prioritising work tasks as an individual or a team is crucial for ensuring success and avoiding stress. One popular method for doing this is the Eisenhower Decision Matrix. |
Former president of the USA, Dwight D. Eisenhower, once said: "''What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important.''" These are the words behind the concept of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix. Later on, Stephen Covey made the method popular in relation to time and task management by including the method in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.<ref name=''7habits''> '''Covey, Stephen R.''' (2013). ''The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change'', 25th anniversary edn. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4516-3961-2 </ref> | Former president of the USA, Dwight D. Eisenhower, once said: "''What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important.''" These are the words behind the concept of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix. Later on, Stephen Covey made the method popular in relation to time and task management by including the method in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.<ref name=''7habits''> '''Covey, Stephen R.''' (2013). ''The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change'', 25th anniversary edn. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4516-3961-2 </ref> | ||
| − | The concept of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix is to prioritise tasks based on their urgency and importance, by categorising them into four quadrants: "Q1: Urgent and Important," "Q2: Important but Not Urgent," "Q3: Urgent but Not Important," and "Q4: Not Urgent nor Important." By analysing tasks in this manner, teams and individuals can concentrate their energy on the most important and urgent tasks while delegating or postponing the less important ones. In a normal workday this can be done very easily by simply numbering the tasks on your to-do list according to the quadrants in the matrix, and then starting by doing the tasks numbered 1, then delegating the tasks numbered 3 and planning/doing tasks numbered 2. As for the tasks which are numbered 4, they should be done at last or simply deleted. | + | The concept of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix is to prioritise tasks based on their urgency and importance, by categorising them into four quadrants: "Q1: Urgent and Important," "Q2: Important but Not Urgent," "Q3: Urgent but Not Important," and "Q4: Not Urgent nor Important." <ref name=''study''> '''Jyothi, N.S., Parkavi, A.''' (2016) ''A study on task management system.'' In: International Conference on Research Advances in Intedrated Navigation Systems. Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Inc. https://doi.org/10.1109/RAINS.2016.7764421 </ref> |
| + | By analysing tasks in this manner, teams and individuals can concentrate their energy on the most important and urgent tasks while delegating or postponing the less important ones. In a normal workday this can be done very easily by simply numbering the tasks on your to-do list according to the quadrants in the matrix, and then starting by doing the tasks numbered 1, then delegating the tasks numbered 3 and planning/doing tasks numbered 2. As for the tasks which are numbered 4, they should be done at last or simply deleted. | ||
| − | The Eisenhower Decision Matrix is a useful tool for project managers and team members, as it provides a clear framework for determining task priority and making informed decisions about | + | The Eisenhower Decision Matrix is a useful tool for project managers and team members, as it provides a clear framework for determining task priority and making informed decisions about allocating time and resources. |
== Big Idea == | == Big Idea == | ||
| + | === Urgency vs. Importance === | ||
* Explaining the difference between urgency and importance. | * Explaining the difference between urgency and importance. | ||
| + | === The Eisenhower Decision Matrix === | ||
* The overall concept of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix. | * The overall concept of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix. | ||
* Explaining the four quadrants of the matrix: | * Explaining the four quadrants of the matrix: | ||
| Line 18: | Line 21: | ||
** Q3: Urgent but Not Important | ** Q3: Urgent but Not Important | ||
** Q4: Not Urgent nor Important | ** Q4: Not Urgent nor Important | ||
| − | + | === How the tasks in each quadrant affect a person === | |
| + | * Too much time spent in certain quadrants, can lead to short-term focus, crisis management, and feeling out of control and stressed. | ||
| + | * which tasks should you have your focus on? | ||
== Application == | == Application == | ||
| − | * How to use this matrix to prioritise tasks: | + | * How to use this matrix in your everyday life to prioritise tasks: |
| − | ** Q1: Urgent and Important | + | ** Q1: Urgent and Important -> Do it NOW |
** Q2: Important but Not Urgent -> Schedule the task | ** Q2: Important but Not Urgent -> Schedule the task | ||
** Q3: Urgent but Not Important -> Delegate the task | ** Q3: Urgent but Not Important -> Delegate the task | ||
| Line 30: | Line 35: | ||
== Limitations == | == Limitations == | ||
| + | * Discuss the illusion of urgency <ref name=''illusion''> '''Kennedy, D.R., Porter, A.L.''' (2022). ''The Illusion of Urgency.'' In: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, vol 86. American Association of Collages of Pharmacy. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8914 </ref> | ||
* This matrix only considers two factors: urgency and importance. | * This matrix only considers two factors: urgency and importance. | ||
| − | * Compare with the Sung diagram | + | * Compare with the Sung diagram <ref name=''Sung''> '''Bratterud, H., Burgess, M., Fasy, B.T., Millman, D.L., Oster, T., Sung, E.''' (2020). ''The Sung Diagram: Revitalizing the Eisenhower Matrix.'' In: Pietarinen, AV., Chapman, P., Bosveld-de Smet, L., Giardino, V., Corter, J., Linker, S. (eds) Diagrammatic Representation and Inference. Diagrams 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12169. Springer, Cham. https://doi-org.proxy.findit.cvt.dk/10.1007/978-3-030-54249-8_43 </ref> |
== Annotated bibliography == | == Annotated bibliography == | ||
Revision as of 14:34, 18 February 2023
Created by Sunneva Gaardlykke
Contents |
Abstract
Prioritising work tasks as an individual or a team is crucial for ensuring success and avoiding stress. One popular method for doing this is the Eisenhower Decision Matrix. Former president of the USA, Dwight D. Eisenhower, once said: "What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important." These are the words behind the concept of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix. Later on, Stephen Covey made the method popular in relation to time and task management by including the method in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.[1]
The concept of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix is to prioritise tasks based on their urgency and importance, by categorising them into four quadrants: "Q1: Urgent and Important," "Q2: Important but Not Urgent," "Q3: Urgent but Not Important," and "Q4: Not Urgent nor Important." [2] By analysing tasks in this manner, teams and individuals can concentrate their energy on the most important and urgent tasks while delegating or postponing the less important ones. In a normal workday this can be done very easily by simply numbering the tasks on your to-do list according to the quadrants in the matrix, and then starting by doing the tasks numbered 1, then delegating the tasks numbered 3 and planning/doing tasks numbered 2. As for the tasks which are numbered 4, they should be done at last or simply deleted.
The Eisenhower Decision Matrix is a useful tool for project managers and team members, as it provides a clear framework for determining task priority and making informed decisions about allocating time and resources.
Big Idea
Urgency vs. Importance
- Explaining the difference between urgency and importance.
The Eisenhower Decision Matrix
- The overall concept of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix.
- Explaining the four quadrants of the matrix:
- Q1: Urgent and Important
- Q2: Important but Not Urgent
- Q3: Urgent but Not Important
- Q4: Not Urgent nor Important
How the tasks in each quadrant affect a person
- Too much time spent in certain quadrants, can lead to short-term focus, crisis management, and feeling out of control and stressed.
- which tasks should you have your focus on?
Application
- How to use this matrix in your everyday life to prioritise tasks:
- Q1: Urgent and Important -> Do it NOW
- Q2: Important but Not Urgent -> Schedule the task
- Q3: Urgent but Not Important -> Delegate the task
- Q4: Not Urgent nor Important -> Delete
- Example
Limitations
- Discuss the illusion of urgency [3]
- This matrix only considers two factors: urgency and importance.
- Compare with the Sung diagram [4]
Annotated bibliography
Covey, Stephen R. (2013). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, 25th anniversary edn. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4516-3961-2
Bratterud, H., Burgess, M., Fasy, B.T., Millman, D.L., Oster, T., Sung, E. (2020). The Sung Diagram: Revitalizing the Eisenhower Matrix. In: Pietarinen, AV., Chapman, P., Bosveld-de Smet, L., Giardino, V., Corter, J., Linker, S. (eds) Diagrammatic Representation and Inference. Diagrams 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12169. Springer, Cham. https://doi-org.proxy.findit.cvt.dk/10.1007/978-3-030-54249-8_43
Kennedy, D.R., Porter, A.L. (2022). The Illusion of Urgency. In: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, vol 86. American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8914
References
- ↑ Covey, Stephen R. (2013). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, 25th anniversary edn. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4516-3961-2
- ↑ Jyothi, N.S., Parkavi, A. (2016) A study on task management system. In: International Conference on Research Advances in Intedrated Navigation Systems. Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Inc. https://doi.org/10.1109/RAINS.2016.7764421
- ↑ Kennedy, D.R., Porter, A.L. (2022). The Illusion of Urgency. In: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, vol 86. American Association of Collages of Pharmacy. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8914
- ↑ Bratterud, H., Burgess, M., Fasy, B.T., Millman, D.L., Oster, T., Sung, E. (2020). The Sung Diagram: Revitalizing the Eisenhower Matrix. In: Pietarinen, AV., Chapman, P., Bosveld-de Smet, L., Giardino, V., Corter, J., Linker, S. (eds) Diagrammatic Representation and Inference. Diagrams 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12169. Springer, Cham. https://doi-org.proxy.findit.cvt.dk/10.1007/978-3-030-54249-8_43
