---
title: Home Improvement with Minitab Workspace's Idea Map, Project Prioritization Matrix and Gantt Chart
description: Let's look at 3 problem-solving tools in Workspace. They help me organize ideas, prioritize work and visually track progress toward scheduled projects.
image: https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/home-improvement-workspace-hero-Jul-05-2025-11-23-44-3763-PM.jpg
---
English
- [English](https://blog.minitab.com/en/?hsLang=en)
- [Français](https://blog.minitab.com/fr/?hsLang=en)
- [Deutsch](https://blog.minitab.com/de/?hsLang=en)
- [Português](https://blog.minitab.com/pt/?hsLang=en)
- [Español](https://blog.minitab.com/es/?hsLang=en)
- [日本語](https://blog.minitab.com/ja/?hsLang=en)
- [한국어](https://blog.minitab.com/ko/?hsLang=en)
- [中文（简体）](https://blog.minitab.com/zh/?hsLang=en)
- [English](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/strategizing-my-home-improvements-with-an-idea-map-project-prioritization-matrix-and-gantt-chart)
- [Deutsch](https://blog.minitab.com/de/blog/renovieren-mit-ideendiagramm-priorisierungsmatrix-und-gantt-diagramm)
- [한국어](https://blog.minitab.com/ko/blog/strategizing-my-home-improvements-with-an-idea-map-project-prioritization-matrix-and-gantt-chart)
- [日本語](https://blog.minitab.com/ja/blog/strategizing-my-home-improvements-with-an-idea-map-project-prioritization-matrix-and-gantt-chart)
- [ Partners](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/partners/)
- [ Contact](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/contact-us/)
- [ Talk to Minitab](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/talk-to-minitab/)
- [ My Account](https://licensing.minitab.com/account/manage)
[](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/)
- Products
Back
[Products](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/)
[All Products](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/)
- [Minitab Solution Center](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/minitab-solution-center/)
- [Minitab Statistical Software](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/minitab/)
- [Minitab Connect](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/connect/)
- [Minitab Model Ops](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/model-ops/)
- [Minitab Education Hub](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/education-hub/)
- [Minitab Engage](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/engage/)
- [Minitab Workspace](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/workspace/)
- [Real-Time SPC](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/real-time-spc/)
- [Prolink Data Collection & SPC](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/prolink)
- [Simul8 Discrete Event Simulation](https://info.minitab.com/en/new-to-simul8?hsLang=en)
- [SPM](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/spm/)
- Solutions
Back
[Solutions](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/)
[All Solutions](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/)
- [Analytics](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/)
- [Statistics & Predictive Analytics](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/statistical-analysis-predictive-analytics/)
- [Data Science & Machine Learning](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/data-science-machine-learning/)
- [Business Analytics & Intelligence](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/business-analytics-intelligence/)
- [Statistical Process Control](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/statistical-process-control/)
- [Quality Analytics](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/quality-analytics/)
- [Live Analytics](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/live-analytics/)
- [Reliability & Life Data Analysis](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/reliability/)
- [Discrete Event Simulation](https://info.minitab.com/en/new-to-simul8?hsLang=en)
- [Process Mining](https://info.minitab.com/en/new-to-simul8?hsLang=en)
- [Key Capabilities](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/)
- [Continuous Improvement](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/continuous-improvement/)
- [Data Integration & Data Prep](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/data-integration-data-prep/)
- [Diagramming & Mind Mapping](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/diagramming-mind-mapping/)
- [Digital Twins](https://info.minitab.com/en/new-to-simul8?hsLang=en)
- [Model Deployment & ML Ops](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/model-deployment-ml-ops/)
- [Innovation & Project Management](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/innovation-project-management/)
- [Process Excellence: Detect, Correct & Prevent](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/process-excellence/)
- [Featured Industries](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/)
- [Academic](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/academic/)
- [Energy & Natural Resources](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/energy-resources/)
- [Government & Public Sector](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/government/)
- [Healthcare](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/healthcare/)
- [Insurance](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/insurance/)
- [Manufacturing & Industrial](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/manufacturing-industrial/)
- [Services](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/service-industries/)
- [Software & Technology](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/software-technology/)
- [Construction](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/construction/)
- [Featured Roles](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/)
- [Engineering](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/engineering/)
- [Business Analysis](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/business-analysts/)
- [Information Technology](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/information-technology/)
- [Supply Chain](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/supply-chain/)
- [Customer Service & Contact Center](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/customer-service-contact-center/)
- [Human Resources](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/human-resources/)
- [Marketing](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/marketing/)
- [Research and Development](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/research-and-development/)
- Resources & Services
Back
[Resources & Services](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/)
[All Resources & Services](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/)
- [Resources](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/)
- [Case Studies](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/case-studies/)
- [eBooks & White Papers](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/ebooks-and-white-papers/)
- [Blog](https://blog.minitab.com/blog/?hsLang=en)
- [Data Sets](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/data-set/)
- [Webinars & Events](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/events/)
- [Education Hub](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/education-hub/)
- [Services](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/)
- [Training](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/training/)
- [Deployment](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/deployment/)
- [Consulting](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/statistical-consulting/)
- [Self-Paced Learning](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/self-paced-learning/)
- [Continuing Education](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/continuing-education/)
- Support
Back
[Support](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/)
[Technical Support](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/)
- [Subscriptions & Activation](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/subscriptions-and-activation/)
- [Minitab Quick Start](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/quick-start/)
- [Training](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/training/)
- [Installation Support](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/installation/)
- [Support Videos](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/videos/)
- [Support Documentation](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/documents/)
- [Software Updates](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/software-updates/)
- [Product Downloads](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/downloads/)
- [Support Policy](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/policy/)
- Company
Back
[Company](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/)
[Company](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/)
- [About Us](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/our-company/)
- [Leadership Team](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/leadership-team/)
- [Partners](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/partners/)
- [Careers](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/careers/)
- [Contact](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/contact-us/)
- [News](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/press-releases/)
[Try/Buy](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/try-buy/)
- [Statistics](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/statistics)
- [Data Analysis](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/data-analysis)
-
- [Quality Improvement](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/quality-improvement)
- [Subscribe](https://info.minitab.com/blog/subscribe?hsLang=en)
## Notice
You are now leaving minitab.com.
Click Continue to proceed to:
Continue
Go Back
# Strategizing My Home Improvements with an Idea Map, Project Prioritization Matrix and Gantt Chart
Minitab Blog Editor | 10/9/2020
Topics: [Minitab Workspace](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/minitab-workspace), [Project Tools](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/project-tools)
- [Share](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/strategizing-my-home-improvements-with-an-idea-map-project-prioritization-matrix-and-gantt-chart)
- [Share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/strategizing-my-home-improvements-with-an-idea-map-project-prioritization-matrix-and-gantt-chart)
Earlier this year, as I was thinking about all the improvement projects on my needs and wants list, I was unsure where to start. Which projects should be tackled first? Did I capture everything in my potential projects list? And once I decide which projects to schedule, how can I keep on track and visualize progress?
Not every problem requires a statistical solution, so I didn’t use [Minitab Statistical Software](https://www.minitab.com/products/minitab?utm_campaign=Workspace_Launch_Americas_2020&utm_source=blog-home-improvement) to tackle the task. Instead I reached for the visual toolkit in Workspace.
[Minitab Workspace](https://www.minitab.com/products/workspace?utm_campaign=Workspace_Launch_Americas_2020&utm_source=blog-home-improvement)has all the visual problem-solving tools to help me organize my ideas, prioritize those ideas based on criteria that I set, and visually track progress towards projects that are scheduled. In this post, I’ll show you the tools I used to help me sort out my home improvement project ideas.
### Try Minitab Workspace Free for 30 Days
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3447555/3c8e0e17-3ec4-4c63-acfc-718e98660b03)
## It all starts with brainstorming in an Idea Map
I used an [Idea Map](https://support.minitab.com/workspace/brainstorming/brainstorming-tools/idea-map/?utm_campaign=Workspace_Launch_Americas_2020&utm_source=blog-home-improvement) to organize all my project ideas. In my Idea Map, the affinities are the rooms I want to remodel, and the branches represent the project ideas for each room.
In Workspace, I can make a quick list in the task pane on the right side of the application, then click and drag my ideas to organize them on the map. Having all my ideas logically arranged in one place helped me think of a few other things that were almost left out! Thanks, Workspace!
## Next I needed to evaluate project ideas in a structured, consistent, quantitative way, with the Project Prioritization Matrix
To get started deciding which projects to schedule first, I listed the projects and who would be responsible for completing each. Because they varied in cost and complexity, some of the projects would be assigned to me, some to my husband, and some of the work would require a contractor.
Using Workspace’s [*Design Mode*](https://support.minitab.com/workspace/forms-and-analysis-captures/form-design/form-design/?utm_campaign=Workspace_Launch_Americas_2020&utm_source=blog-home-improvement) and the out-of-the box [Project Prioritization Matrix](https://support.minitab.com/workspace/forms-and-analysis-captures/forms-and-form-based-tools/project-prioritization-matrix/?utm_campaign=Workspace_Launch_Americas_2020&utm_source=blog-home-improvement), I customized some of the fields, like the Price Estimate, to track the information that is relevant to my specific situation. I ranked each idea based on my evaluation of the **Urgency** and **Cost** and used these inputs as my **Selection Criteria**. I also ranked each project based on the **Ease of Completion**.
Workspace automatically calculated the **Weighted Value by Project** based on my Selection Criteria, then incorporated my ranking of the Ease of Completion to calculate the **Value by EOC** (Ease of Completion) in the matrix. The results from the matrix above are displayed as a series of graphs show below, to help me decide which projects to schedule first.
The project identifier at the bottom of each bar in the **Projects by ‘Value\*EOC’** chart made it easy to see which projects should be scheduled first.
Now that I know which projects I want to tackle first, need to start scheduling.
## And now, planning and scheduling the work! Enter the Gantt Chart.
The [Gantt Chart](https://support.minitab.com/workspace/forms-and-analysis-captures/forms-and-form-based-tools/gantt-chart/?utm_campaign=Workspace_Launch_Americas_2020&utm_source=blog-home-improvement) in Workspace helped me establish a graphical timeline for advancing my projects, and helped me visualize the progress made on each project. I just filled in the activities table, and Workspace dynamically updated the Gantt Chart.
To see how the visual problem-solving tools in Workspace can help your keep organized and elevate your work, you can [download the trial version of Workspace](https://www.minitab.com/products/workspace/free-trial/?utm_campaign=Workspace_Launch_Americas_2020&utm_source=blog-home-improvement&utm_content=bottom).
## You Might Also Like
[Turning OEE Data into Action: How to Use Minitab to Drive Measurable Improvement](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/turning-oee-data-into-action-how-to-use-minitab-to-drive-measurable-improvement?hsLang=en)
[Minitab Solution Center](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/minitab-solution-center) | 13 Minute Read
[6 Steps to Go from Seeing Processes to Optimizing Them with AI](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/6-steps-to-go-from-seeing-processes-to-optimizing-them-with-ai?hsLang=en)
[Minitab Solution Center](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/minitab-solution-center) | 5 Minute Read
[Using Monte Carlo Simulation for Scenario Analysis of Your Forecast](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/using-monte-carlo-simulation-for-scenario-analysis-of-your-forecast?hsLang=en)
[Minitab Workspace](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/minitab-workspace) | 4 Minute Read
---
- [Careers](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/careers/)
- [Trust Center](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/trust-center/)
- [Suppliers](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/suppliers/)
- [Site Map](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/site-map/)
- [](https://www.linkedin.com/company/minitab/)
- [](https://www.facebook.com/Minitab/)
- [](https://www.youtube.com/user/MinitabInc)
- [](https://www.instagram.com/minitab/)
---
© 2025 Minitab, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
- [Terms of Use](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/legal/terms-of-use/)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/legal/privacy-policy/)
- [Legal](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/legal/)
- Cookies Settings