How do you select a Lean improvement project?

How to Choose the Right Improvement Projects for Your Organization

Are you overwhelmed with suggestions for improvements but unsure which ones are worth pursuing? The challenge lies in identifying the projects that will truly make an impact and provide long-term value for your organization. Here’s how to focus on selecting and prioritizing improvement projects that drive real results.

Assessing Significance and Relevance

Before diving into any improvement initiative, it’s essential to evaluate its relevance to your organization’s goals and strategy. An idea might seem exciting, or it may address a specific problem, but that doesn’t automatically make it a priority. Ask yourself:

• Does this project align with the company’s overall objectives?
• Will it contribute to solving critical issues or delivering significant value?
• Is this improvement necessary right now, or could it wait?

This initial assessment helps filter out projects that may not serve your organization’s broader goals, allowing you to focus on those that will have a meaningful impact.

Prioritizing Projects Effectively

Once you’ve identified several potential improvement projects, the next step is prioritization. A useful method is to rank projects from the most critical to the least. This is where you can begin to trim down your list. Does every project need to be executed immediately? Can you eliminate any from the list?

Even after narrowing your selection, you may still have several viable projects left. To further refine your choices, consider using an Impact/Effort Matrix.

The Impact/Effort Matrix

The Impact/Effort Matrix is a practical tool that helps you compare the effort required to complete a project against the potential impact it will have on your organization. It divides projects into four categories:

1. Quick Wins: These are projects with high impact and low effort. They should be your first priority since they deliver significant improvements quickly and with minimal resources. Quick wins are often small changes that can lead to big benefits.
2. Major Projects: These initiatives offer significant rewards but require substantial effort, time, and resources to complete. They are transformative projects—think of large-scale upgrades like overhauling IT systems or redesigning an entire process. They take longer to implement but could have a lasting positive impact.
3. Fill-Ins: These are small, low-effort projects that won’t dramatically change the organization but are still necessary. They can be slotted in between larger projects when resources are available.
4. Thankless Tasks: These are the projects you want to avoid. They demand significant resources but provide little return on investment. They may look appealing at first glance but are unlikely to deliver tangible results. These should be scrapped in favor of more promising initiatives.

Focus on High-Impact, Low-Effort Projects

When prioritizing, pay special attention to projects that fall into the “Quick Wins” category. These high-impact, low-effort projects represent opportunities for meaningful change without consuming too many resources. They provide momentum and early successes, which can build confidence and support for larger, more complex initiatives.

On the other hand, if a project appears destined to be resource-draining without producing substantial results, it’s best to avoid it altogether. The key is to concentrate your energy on efforts that will yield significant value for the organization.

Conclusion

Choosing the right improvement projects requires a careful balance between assessing their significance, likelihood of success, and potential impact. By using an Impact/Effort Matrix, you can streamline the decision-making process, ensuring you focus on the initiatives that will bring the greatest benefits to your organization.

Start small with quick wins and build from there, gradually tackling more complex projects once you’ve gained momentum. The right approach to selecting improvement projects will enable your organization to evolve strategically and achieve sustained success. Now, are you ready to prioritize the ideas that truly matter and take your organization to the next level?