The Prioritization Problem
Every Shopify store has more potential projects than resources to execute them. Without structured prioritization, urgent displaces important, pet projects win over impactful ones, and resources scatter ineffectively.
Impact vs Effort Framework
Categorizing projects
- High impact, low effort: Do first. Quick wins that matter.
- High impact, high effort: Plan and resource. Strategic priorities.
- Low impact, low effort: Fill in gaps. Nice to have.
- Low impact, high effort: Avoid. Not worth the resources.
Estimating impact
Connect to business outcomes. Revenue increase, cost reduction, risk mitigation. Quantify where possible.
Estimating effort
Consider development time, testing, coordination, and opportunity cost. Include hidden effort like training and documentation.
Common Prioritization Mistakes
Shiny object syndrome
New ideas get attention. Boring maintenance gets neglected. Sometimes boring wins.
Loudest voice wins
Without objective criteria, whoever argues longest wins. Use data instead.
Ignoring dependencies
Some projects unlock others. Consider sequencing, not just individual priority.
No capacity planning
Prioritization without capacity understanding leads to unrealistic expectations.
Practical Prioritization Process
Inventory projects
List all potential projects with brief descriptions and initial impact estimates.
Score and rank
Score impact and effort. Calculate ratio. Rank by ratio.
Reality check
Review top priorities with stakeholders. Adjust for strategic considerations not captured in scoring.
Commit to capacity
Match priorities to available resources. What can realistically be done?
Review regularly
Priorities change. Review monthly or quarterly. Adjust as situation evolves.
For strategic planning, see our services.
Working with LiftKit Digital
LiftKit Digital helps clients prioritize Shopify work based on business impact. We bring objectivity to decisions that otherwise become political.
To discuss prioritization, get in touch.