Set Task Priority - Task Management Solution

Task priority answers the question “Which task should I do first?”. There are at least two methods that can answer this question. The choice of one or another method is up to the user.

Task Prioritization Methods

The first method of setting task priority is based on multiplying task difficulty and task value. The result is averaged to priority level or calculated as numeric value. This way of task prioritization is both manager’s and executor’s duty because employee assigned to task may not know its value, while manager cannot tell how difficult the task is.

Another way to set task priority is to use Stephen Covey’s “Urgent/Important Matrix” which is based on Dwight D. Eisenhower’s principle "What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important".

Task Priority Types

Priority Levels

There are 5 task priority levels in CentriQS: ‘Lowest’, ‘Low’, ‘Normal’, ‘High’, and ‘Highest’. By default, all new tasks are created with ‘Normal’ priority level, which can be changed to any of other four levels depending on user’s perception of the given task difficulty and value.

Numeric Priority

Priority values range from 0 to 999 and each priority level has its range of numeric values: Lowest (0-199), Low (200-399), Normal (400-599), High (600-799), and Highest (800-999). If you want to prioritize tasks within the levels, you can set a numeric value for each task. By default, all new tasks are created with ‘500’ priority numeric value.

Urgent / Important Matrix

Urgency / Importance matrix features four priorities which are labeled by letters A, B, C, D. If a task is neither urgent nor important, it has “D” priority. If a task is urgent, it has “C” priority. If a task is important, it has “B” priority. If task is both important and urgent, it has “A” priority. By default, all new tasks are created with “D” priority.

Set Task Priority

Using Task Detail View

You can select required priority level and/or enter numeric priority value in the ‘Priority’ field.

For example, you can change priority level of task “Empty email box” from ‘Normal’ to ‘Lowest’ and then change numeric priority value from ‘100’ to ‘50’ to lower its priority among the lowest priority tasks.

You can prioritize task by its urgency / importance by checking and/or unchecking required ‘Urgent’ and/or ‘Important’ checkboxes.

For example, you can set urgency / importance of task “Make monthly report” as ‘Important’, but when the date of submitting the report is almost due, you can raise its priority by checking it also as ‘Urgent’.

Using Ribbon

You can raise or lower task priority level by using ‘Increase Priority’ or ‘Decrease Priority’ options in the ribbon. One click raises or lowers task priory for one level up or down.

For example, in order to raise priority of task “Read and sign contract” from ‘Normal’ level to ‘Highest’, you will need to click ‘Increase Priority’ option twice.