The model
Place work against two questions: how much operational value would completion create, and how much executive attention does it already receive? The four resulting spaces distinguish useful quiet work, useful visible work, ceremonial activity and work that has not yet justified either description.
Read each position by operational value and executive visibility.
Useful work that needs appropriate support.
Useful work receiving active attention.
Clarify the need or consider retirement.
Review the effect behind the exposure.
In practice
A minor repair removes a daily reconciliation task while an enterprise dashboard relaunch consumes the review agenda. The grid makes both visible without pretending that visibility itself is a benefit. Owners must describe the effect of stopping each initiative.
