Prioritization Pitfalls Checklist

Avoid these common mistakes when prioritizing content improvements

Decision-Making Pitfalls

Avoiding HiPPO (Highest Paid Person's Opinion) dominance Not falling for recency bias (latest complaint = top priority) Preventing analysis paralysis (waiting for perfect data) Avoiding shiny object syndrome (newest idea wins) Not confusing urgent with important Preventing opinion-based decisions over data

Data & Measurement Pitfalls

Not relying on incomplete or sampled data Avoiding vanity metrics over business metrics Not ignoring seasonality in data Preventing cherry-picking favorable data Not confusing correlation with causation Avoiding single-metric tunnel vision

Scope & Resource Pitfalls

Not trying to fix everything at once Avoiding underestimating effort required Not ignoring resource constraints Preventing scope creep mid-project Not overcommitting team capacity Avoiding the "while we're at it" trap

Process & Methodology Pitfalls

Not skipping documentation of decisions Avoiding changing criteria mid-stream Not prioritizing without clear objectives Preventing duplicate or conflicting priorities Not ignoring dependencies between items Avoiding one-size-fits-all approaches

Stakeholder Pitfalls

Not excluding key stakeholders from process Avoiding too many decision makers Not letting politics override business needs Preventing siloed priority decisions Not ignoring user/customer input Avoiding surprise priority changes

⏰ Timing Pitfalls

Not delaying quick wins for perfect solutions Avoiding seasonal blind spots Not ignoring technical debt accumulation Preventing forever planning without action Not missing market timing opportunities Avoiding rigid annual planning cycles

Risk Assessment

🟢 Low Risk (0-2 pitfalls)

Strong prioritization process

🟡 Medium Risk (3-5 pitfalls)

Some process improvements needed

🟠 High Risk (6-10 pitfalls)

Significant vulnerability to errors

Critical Risk (10+ pitfalls)

Prioritization process needs overhaul

Fix Your Prioritization Process