How to Use the Table

  1. Start with Data Collection: For each category, gather relevant data using the listed tools or methods.
  2. Analyze and Prioritize: Focus on areas with the most significant potential for impact.
  3. Execute Deliverables: Use the deliverables as checkpoints to ensure progress and accountability.
  4. Iterate: Revisit and refine based on results from the first round of simplification.
Category Key Questions Data/Tools to Use Outcome/Next Steps Deliverables
Customers - Which 20% of customers generate 80% of revenue or profit? CRM (e.g., HubSpot), financial data Tier customers into A, B, C based on profitability and effort. Customer Profitability Report: Tiers A/B/C based on revenue and effort.
- Which customers are high-maintenance with low profitability? Customer support logs, time-tracking data Develop plans to transition or reprice unprofitable accounts. Transition/Optimization Plan: Repricing or offboarding recommendations.
- Are there upsell or cross-sell opportunities with top-tier customers? Purchase history, customer feedback Identify accounts for upselling with dedicated plans. Upsell/Cross-Sell Plan: Top-tier customer strategies.
Products/Features - Which 20% of products or features drive 80% of customer value and revenue? Product usage analytics (e.g., Mixpanel) Focus development on high-impact features; deprioritize or sunset low-value features. Feature Prioritization Matrix: Essential, underutilized, and legacy features.
- Are there legacy features that add complexity without adding value? Feedback from engineering and customer success teams Create a roadmap to sunset non-essential features. Feature Sunset Roadmap: Steps and timelines for retiring legacy features.
- Are there opportunities to repackage or tier products for better pricing alignment? Pricing experiments, competitor analysis Test pricing tiers or feature bundling for improved ARPU. Revised Pricing Model: Proposed tiers and packaging structure.
Processes - Which processes consume the most time across the team? Workflow mapping, employee time-tracking data Streamline, delegate, or automate time-intensive workflows. Process Streamlining Report: List of processes for simplification.
- Are there redundant workflows or approval layers that slow execution? RACI analysis, feedback from team leads Remove unnecessary approvals or simplify workflows. RACI Map: Revised responsibility assignments.
- Which processes could benefit from automation? Operations audit, tools like Zapier or RPA software Automate repetitive or low-value tasks. Automation Plan: Tools and workflows targeted for automation.
Team Resources - How is the team's time allocated between low and high-value activities? Employee surveys, task logs Reallocate team focus to high-impact activities; deprioritize others. Time Allocation Heatmap: High- and low-value task breakdown.
- Are there underperforming team members or unproductive roles? Performance reviews, KPIs Provide training, redefine roles, or phase out low-contribution roles. Role Optimization Plan: Adjustments to responsibilities or roles.
- Are key roles missing (e.g., Customer Success Manager, Sales Manager)? Organizational design analysis Prioritize hiring or outsourcing for critical gaps. Hiring Plan: Roles to fill and recommended hiring sequence.
Meetings - Which recurring meetings provide minimal value or are too long? Calendar audit, meeting surveys Shorten or eliminate unnecessary meetings; set clear agendas. Meeting Audit Summary: Meetings to modify, remove, or consolidate.
- Are decisions being delayed due to lack of clarity or structure in meetings? Feedback from team Implement RACI framework for decision-making and clarify meeting purposes. Decision-Making Playbook: Steps for streamlined decision-making.
- Can any meetings be replaced with asynchronous updates? Slack or email activity Use async communication for status updates or minor decisions. Async Communication Guide: Standards for updates via Slack or email.
Revenue Generation - Which 20% of products or customers contribute most to revenue growth? Financial reports, CRM data Focus sales efforts on high-impact products/customers. Revenue Opportunity Report: Top products and customer segments to target.
- Are there underperforming pricing strategies or contracts? Contract audit, competitive pricing analysis Redesign pricing models for better profitability. Pricing Adjustment Recommendations: Contracts or terms to revise.
- Are there opportunities to test new revenue streams (e.g., upselling, subscription tiers)? Market research, pilot experiments Develop and launch pilots for promising revenue opportunities. Pilot Revenue Test Plan: Framework for testing new revenue streams.
Customer Support - Which support issues are most frequent and time-consuming? Support tickets, FAQ analytics Engineer out recurring issues; update support documentation. Support Issue Report: Key patterns and engineering solutions.
- Are high-tier customers receiving adequate attention? NPS surveys, account health reviews Assign dedicated success resources to top customers. Customer Success Playbook: Steps to support top-tier accounts.
- Can any support processes be automated (e.g., chatbots, ticket triaging)? Helpdesk data, tools like Zendesk, Intercom Automate low-tier requests or repetitive tasks. Support Automation Plan: Tools and workflows for support.
Culture and Morale - Are team members aligned with business priorities? Employee pulse surveys, team feedback sessions Communicate priorities clearly and address misalignments. Alignment Report: Insights on gaps in alignment or morale.
- Are cultural or team-building activities impactful or performative? Feedback from team Focus on meaningful cultural initiatives. Cultural Initiatives Plan: Meaningful, high-impact activities.
Metrics and Reporting - Which 20% of metrics provide the clearest picture of business health? Current dashboards, OKR reviews Simplify reporting to focus on high-impact KPIs. Simplified Metrics Dashboard: Key KPIs for decision-making.
- Are reports easily accessible and actionable? Dashboard audits, user feedback Standardize dashboards with real-time insights for faster decisions. Standardized Reporting Framework: Clear and actionable reporting.