XY Plot: Visual Prioritization of Ideas by Impact and Effort

How do I find high-impact, low-effort ideas in Ideanote?

You plot ideas on an X-Y chart with Impact on one axis and Effort on the other. The top-right corner (or top-left, depending on your axis setup) shows you the ideas with the best combination of high impact and low effort. These are your quick wins.

You set which rating criteria appear on each axis. For example, set the Y-axis to "Impact" and the X-axis to "Ease of Implementation" (or reverse "Effort"). The chart updates automatically as you evaluate ideas, so you always see the latest priorities.

What data do I need to evaluate before I plot ideas on an X-Y chart?

You need to rate or score your ideas on at least two criteria. For example, rate each idea on Impact and Effort, or Value and Risk. Ideanote lets you define custom rating criteria during evaluation.

Once you have ratings, the X-Y plot pulls those scores and places each idea on the chart. You choose which criteria to display on each axis.

How do I compare ideas across multiple rating parameters?

The X-Y plot shows two parameters at once: one on the X-axis and one on the Y-axis. You select which rating criteria to display, such as Impact vs Effort, Strategic Alignment vs Feasibility, or Customer Value vs Internal Value.

You see where each idea stands relative to others across those two dimensions. This helps you identify clusters, outliers, and patterns in your portfolio.

Does the chart update automatically when I submit new ideas?

Yes. When someone submits a new idea and you evaluate it with ratings, the idea appears on the chart automatically. You do not need to refresh or rebuild the plot manually.

How do I surface quick wins or big bets visually?

You set the axes to display the criteria that define quick wins for your team. For example, plot Impact on the Y-axis and Effort on the X-axis. Ideas in the top-left are high-impact and low-effort (quick wins). Ideas in the top-right are high-impact and high-effort (big bets).

You also change the styling to mark specific quadrants with colors, such as green for the quick-win quadrant. This makes it easier for stakeholders to spot priorities at a glance.

What does bubble size and color represent on the chart?

You choose what size and color represent. Size works with numerical data, such as the number of likes, comments, average rating, or the age of the idea. Larger bubbles stand out and draw attention to ideas with more activity or higher scores.

Color works with categorical data, such as department, team, or idea category. This helps you see which groups or themes dominate different areas of the chart.

How do I prevent overlapping bubbles when ideas have the same score?

You turn on jittering. This adds a small random offset to bubbles that share the same coordinates, so you see each idea separately instead of stacked on top of each other.

Where do I add an X-Y plot in Ideanote?

You access the X-Y plot as a view when you browse ideas, or you add it as a chart widget to any dashboard. This lets you embed the plot alongside other insights, such as lists, trend charts, or status summaries.