CARVER Matrix

This tool is an extension of a PMI analysis. It uses six categories for ranking. Where in a PMI the focus is on finding plusses and minusses in which ever way you can think of, the CARVER matrix specifies what to think about and the focus is on ranking those categories.

Steve Pavlina wrote a very good description on how to use the CARVER matrix in personal projects. I reproduce part of it below.

CARVER is an acronym for a military method of target selection. CARVER stands for Criticality, Accessibility, Return (or Recuperability), Vulnerability, Effect, and Recognizability. I'll explain what these are in a moment.

For every potential target, we assign a value of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) for each CARVER factor, thereby creating a CARVER matrix. Then by summing the six CARVER values, we can calculate a total score for each target, and those scores represent the targets' relative prioritization. The higher the CARVER score, the more "important" a target becomes.

Now lets explore the six CARVER factors, and consider how we can apply them to personal projects.

Criticality. How critical is the target with respect to the main objective? Will it move you significantly closer to your goal, or is it a relatively puny and insignificant item? A low criticality project might be cleaning out your garage. It would be nice to do, but it's probably not going to make that much difference in your life.

Accessibility. Can you actually reach the target, or is it so well defended that attacking it directly is impossible? Do you have the means to tackle this project immediately, or does it have prerequisites? Starting a new business might not be very accessible if you work long hours and are living paycheck to paycheck, but asking for a promotion may be very accessible.

Return. In military operations the term Recuperability is used here, referring to how quickly the enemy can recover from the destruction of the target. There's little point in attacking a target that can be rebuilt or replaced with minimal effort. For personal effectiveness we'll use Return instead. How great is the expected return on your commitment of resources? Developing a new passive income stream may yield a significant return, while watching the news may yield virtually none.

Vulnerability. How vulnerable is the target? What amount of resources will be required to take it out? How vulnerable are the projects you're considering? A one-day project will score a high vulnerability rating, while a six-month project will score much lower. Similarly, an inexpensive project is more vulnerable than an expensive one.

Effect. If you successfully destroy the target, how widespread will the impact be? If you successfully complete your project, what effect will it have on your life as well as the lives of others? Writing a best-selling book may have a significant effect, while completing your tax return will have very little effect.

Recognizability. Can we see the target well enough to attack it, or is it highly camouflaged or mobile? Is your project crystal clear or totally fuzzy? How easy is it to recognize the steps necessary to complete the project? Have you completed this type of project before, or will you have to figure out the steps as you go along? Clear goals with clear steps will score higher on recognizability than foggy goals with unclear steps.