Tool 118: Nominal Prioritization

AKA

N/A

Classification

Evaluating/Selecting (ES)

Tool description

The nominal prioritization tool is an easy and quick method for a team to team-prioritize from a list of items, proposed actions, or various options. It can also be used to team-select a particular problem or opportunity from a previously brainstormed list.

Typical application

• To prioritize from a list of brainstormed items or options.

• To involve all team participants in the selection process of the preferred choices.

• To determine a "next-step" approach in a team problem-solving effort.

Problem-solving phase

→	Select and define problem or opportunity
	Identify and analyze causes or potential change
→	Develop and plan possible solutions or change
	Implement and evaluate solution or change
	Measure and report solution or change results
→	Recognize and reward team efforts

Typically used by

	Research/statistics
	Creativity/innovation
	Engineering
	Project management
4	Manufacturing
	Marketing/sales
3	Administration/documentation
2	Servicing/support
	Customer/quality metrics
1	Change management

links to other tools

before

• Brainstorming

• Brainwriting Pool

• Crawford Slip Method

• Double Reversal

• Importance Weighting

after

• Consensus Decision Making

• Starbursting

• Different Point of View

• Run-It-By

• Criteria Filtering

Notes and key points

• Optional approach: A team facilitator may provide participants the opportunity to present and explain why they considered certain items as their second and third selections.

Step-by-step procedure

• STEP 1 The team facilitator displays a flip chart with a list of items or options. See example Prioritizing a Data Collection Method.

• STEP 2 Team participants are asked to review the entire list and select the top three choices.

• STEP 3 Every participant moves to the flip chart and marks the top or most important choice by writing a 3, marks the second choice a 2, and the third choice a 1. All marked choices also require the participants' initials for possible future reference. This concludes the preliminary selection process.

• STEP 4 The team facilitator totals up the scores of all selected items and ranks the top three choices. The highest scored item is, therefore, also what the team considers the most important item.

• STEP 5 In the next step, participants give a rationale for selecting their most important choice. This discussion should be limited to 2-3 minutes per participant.

• STEP 6 Once all participants have a chance to explain why a particular change was made, participants are now given the opportunity to change their selections.

• STEP 7 Lastly, the facilitator retotals, if needed, all selections, and lists the final top three choices on a flip chart and dates the chart.

Example of tool application