A useful tool to guide conversations and decisions
by Ryan Moore The Cost-Impact Matrix
A constant struggle for camp leaders is finding a balance between the number of tasks on the to-do list and the finite resources available to accomplish them. Perhaps no department dis- plays this tension as clearly as site and facilities maintenance. Good leaders must wisely steward a variety of resources like money, time and staff and volunteer labor, and navigate the process for determining which projects make the list. One of the core tools that our team has uti-
lized and helped camps and leaders use is the “Cost-Impact Matrix.” It’s a simple tool on its face, but when used to generate conversations, it can be powerful. Te format of the matrix is straightforward:
charting the cost of a given project or task along the x-axis and the impact along the y-axis. Impact refers to the degree to which a given project will affect the experience of campers or guests. Cost includes the obvious element of monetary costs, but also staff or volunteer labor and time. Te fact that the terms impact and cost have
some level of subjectivity is by design. When leaders use this tool to collectively chart mainte- nance projects or priorities, the conversations are oſten illuminating and valuable. Staff or board members may place projects in different quadrants or even in different areas in the same quadrant. Tis can lead to helpful conversations that explore the differing perspectives on an issue. For example, the maintenance director may
rightfully note that the impact of painting an older building is low: paint doesn’t affect the
functionality of the building itself and other projects would more directly affect the experience of guests. However, the executive director sees the impact as high because all guests will see the improvement and the quality of the property; not painting it will have a damaging impact if people see the property as being in disrepair or poten- tially unsafe. Who’s right? It depends on the context and other organizational goals, but the key here is that the conversation can happen, and this tool can provide the format. At the end of the day, we all want to maximize
impact while minimizing costs. By getting the right voices into the conversation and using a simple tool like the Cost-Impact Matrix, you can do just that. Take it for a spin and see what it can do for your maintenance plans.
Ryan Moore is a consultant with KALEIDOSCOPE Inc. His career was marked by moving multiple organizations through change and seasons of tremendous growth. He has great skills in strategic leadership and analysis, working well with groups to gain clarity in purpose and vision of potential models for the future. With strong leadership in the camp field, Moore brings a valuable perspective to KALEIDOSCOPE projects.
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www.ccca.org September/October 2024
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