Pareto principle
The Pareto Principle is a practical heuristic that states that in many situations a small portion of causes or actions account for a large portion of the effects.
Definition
The Pareto Principle is sometimes summarized as the 80/20 rule, but the numbers should not be taken literally. Its value lies in asking which activities, problems, customers, sources of stress, or habits have the greatest impact on the outcome. It's a prioritization tool, not a universal law of nature.
Key ideas
- Nierówny rozkład efektów
- Priorytetyzacja
- Heurystyka 80/20
Practice and life
List all the activities in the project and highlight the three that are likely to contribute the most to the effect. Start with them.
Common misunderstanding
It is a mistake to mechanically apply the 80/20 ratio to everything. It is also a mistake to ignore small actions that are critical despite their low frequency.
Questions for self-reflection
- Które działania dają największy efekt?
- Które problemy tworzą najwięcej kosztu?
- Czy stosuję Pareto jako pytanie, czy jako dogmat?