The Evolution of Prioritization: A Journey Through Priority Poker from 1400 BC to Today
At Decision Design Lab, we are trying to reshape the way learning is approached.
Too often, education focuses on theory and neglects its applicability.
Our goal at Decision Design Lab is to instil decision-making as a core skill—one that allows individuals to make informed, confident choices in all aspects of their lives.
In my last article, I promised to dive deeper into Priority Poker, a decision-making tool that’s gaining attention in agile, collaborative environments.
And the dive was indeed deep, there is so much literature and great work done on priority poker, I really had to concise what fits the core of our core proposition. Most importantly on the applicability.
Through my research, I ended up tracing its roots all the way back to ancient Greece—around 1400 BC. This journey uncovered how decision-making tools have evolved over centuries to shape the way we think and prioritize choices today.
My assessment
"The quest to make better decisions is older than civilization itself; however, prioritization likely evolved later as a key component in that quest."
Why Prioritization Matters
In every project or decision-making scenario, we face multiple competing options. Prioritization is crucial because it helps cut through the noise, clarifying what needs immediate attention and what can wait. It’s not about making perfect decisions—it’s about making the best possible choices given the available information.
What is Priority Poker?
Priority Poker is a decision-making tool that transforms prioritization into a collaborative, game-like exercise.
It's about creating an inclusive environment where every voice is heard, and no single perspective dominates the outcome. Participants rank items based on their importance, often using points or votes, to quickly converge on a collective priority.
image borrowed but the flow works perfectly for priority poker
Applicability
A Marketing Campaign Example
Let's build a scenario of a marketing team preparing for a major product launch. The premise is a limited budget and multiple promotional activities to consider.
(Including social media ads, influencer partnerships, email marketing, event sponsorships, and content creation).
Each option has its potential benefits and costs, and it's crucial to make the most impact with the budget available.
Process Flow through Planning Poker Method Example
1. Collaboration
The team gathers, including members from different departments—social media, content, email, and event management. Each brings their expertise to the table
They list all possible marketing activities for the upcoming launch.
2. Game-Like Structure
Using the Priority Poker format, each team member is given cards or points. They rank each marketing activity based on its expected impact, feasibility, and alignment with the campaign’s goals.
This gamified approach makes the process engaging and encourages everyone to participate.
3. Consensus Without Dominance
No single voice dominates the conversation since each member’s rankings are equally weighed. This balance ensures that perspectives from various specialities are represented.
After the initial voting, the team discusses discrepancies where scores vary significantly, allowing for deeper insights and context to be shared.
4. Quick Decision-Making
The results of the rankings are compiled swiftly, highlighting the top three or four marketing activities that have broad support.
The team decides to allocate the budget accordingly, prioritizing the highest-ranked actions while considering any outliers that bring unique value.
How it Benefits
Reduces Bias Priority Poker removes the influence of seniority or the loudest voices, leading to a more inclusive and data-driven outcome.
Saves Time The structured format avoids lengthy debates, helping the team quickly identify the best promotional tactics.
Increases Engagement Everyone gets involved, leading to a higher commitment to the final plan.
It’s a strategic tool that helps allocate resources, time, and attention where they matter most. Effective prioritization directly influences the success of projects and the achievement of goals.
If you find a business situation where you need to make a prioritisation call, do consider integrating Priority Poker into your workflow. You can use the workflow example as above.
The Evolution
"It didn't start in 20th century & the name "Delphi" wasn't a coincidence."
While Priority Poker is a modern innovation, it’s built on a long legacy of decision-making tools aimed at improving clarity and reducing bias. Here’s a snapshot of how prioritization methods have evolved
Priority Poker (2000s) Building on past techniques, Priority Poker emphasizes speed, inclusion, and collaboration, meeting the needs of fast-moving environments.
Wideband Delphi (1960s-70s) This evolved from the original Delphi Method, allowing for broader participation and faster iterations, an early move toward democratizing decision-making.
The Delphi Method (1950s) In the mid-20th century, the Delphi Method structured the gathering of expert opinions anonymously, refining consensus through multiple rounds of feedback.
The Oracle of Delphi (1400 BC) In ancient Greece, leaders sought divine guidance from the Oracle to prioritize crucial decisions, aiming to reduce individual biases and gain a broader perspective.
"Each of these methods shares a common goal- Improving how we prioritize information and make decisions"
Why It Matters
Modern decision-making isn’t about relying on gut instinct or letting the loudest voice win. It’s about combining data, diverse perspectives, and structured processes to make decisions that stand up to scrutiny.
Priority Poker is an example of how prioritization methods have culminated in a tool that aligns with the needs of our times—quick, collaborative, and reliable.
Research shows that structured prioritization methods, like Priority/Planning Poker, also help reduce cognitive biases.
With time, the current progress of AI consulting in decision-making is where the process is making new strides.
In Conclusion
Join us at Decision Design Lab, share your experiences, and help us explore how modern decision-making tools can transform the way we work. Let’s make better decisions, together.
Share your thoughts, endorse our mission, or reach out to learn more—let's build a smarter decision-making culture.
References Images generated from AI and Doasync | Research from bigagile, airfocus, researchgate, launchnotes, mit-edu.
