How to Create a Value vs. Effort Matrix in Google Slides (Using a Scatter Plot)

We’ve all been in that brutal alignment meeting. You have a list of 20 project requests, a fixed budget, and a room full of stakeholders who all think their idea is the absolute top priority.

How do you decide what gets done first? You map it out.

The Value vs. Effort matrix (sometimes called an Action Priority Matrix) is the ultimate tie-breaker. It forces everyone to look at the cold, hard facts: how much impact will this have, and how hard is it to build?

But if you’ve ever tried to present one of these in Google Slides, you know the headache that comes next.

The Sticky Note Problem

Google Slides doesn’t have a native "Matrix" chart.

So, what do most of us do? We draw a big cross on a blank slide to make four quadrants. Then, we create little text boxes or shape "sticky notes" for each project and manually drag them around the screen.

It looks fine at first. But what happens when the engineering team says Project X will actually take twice as long? Or when the client changes their mind? You are stuck manually dragging boxes around, trying to keep everything aligned.

There is a much better way. You can build a fully automated, data-driven matrix using a Scatter Plot.

Why a Scatter Plot?

A scatter plot perfectly mimics a 2x2 matrix.

• Your X-axis becomes "Effort" (scored 1 to 10).
• Your Y-axis becomes "Value" (scored 1 to 10).
• Every dot on the chart represents a specific project.

The problem with the default Google Slides scatter plot is that it’s terrible at handling text labels. You get a bunch of dots, but your audience has no idea which dot represents which project. You end up having to manually add text boxes next to the dots anyway.

That’s exactly why we built ExtraChart. It lets you build professional, labeled scatter plots directly inside Google Slides without the usual formatting nightmares.

How to Build Your Matrix in Minutes

Here is the exact workflow to create a pristine Value vs. Effort matrix that updates automatically when your data changes.

Step 1: Launch ExtraChart

Open your Google Slides presentation. Go to Extensions -> ExtraChart -> Create & Edit Charts.

Once the sidebar opens, you'll see our library of 20 chart types. Click on the Scatter Plot icon.

Step 2: Format Your Data

When the ExtraChart editor pops up, you’ll see a spreadsheet interface. This is where the magic happens. You don't need to link to an external Google Sheet if you don't want to.

Set up three columns:

1. Project Name (e.g., "New Checkout Flow")
2. Effort Score (e.g., 8)
3. Value Score (e.g., 9)

As you type or paste your data in, you'll see the chart preview updating in real time.

Step 3: Customize the Quadrants

Switch over to the Settings tab. This is where you make it look like a proper prioritization matrix.

• Set Axis Limits: Lock both your X and Y axes to a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 10. This keeps your grid perfectly square and proportional.
• Add Titles: Label your X-axis "Effort (Time/Cost)" and your Y-axis "Value (Impact/Revenue)".
• Show Data Labels: Turn on labels so the actual project names appear right next to their corresponding dots. You can easily adjust the font size and color to match your company's branding.

If you understand the math of the matrix, the story tells itself automatically:

• Top Left (High Value, Low Effort): Your Quick Wins. Do these immediately.
• Top Right (High Value, High Effort): Major Projects. Plan these carefully.
• Bottom Left (Low Value, Low Effort): Fill-ins. Tackle these when you have downtime.
• Bottom Right (Low Value, High Effort): Time Wasters. Drop these from the roadmap.

Step 4: Insert and Update Later

Hit the Create button. ExtraChart instantly drops a crisp, high-resolution image of your matrix right onto your slide.

Here is the best part: it’s not just a static image.

Let's say next week, you realize that "New Checkout Flow" is actually a massive technical lift. Its effort score jumps from an 8 to a 10.

Instead of redrawing the slide, simply click on the chart image, open ExtraChart, and change that single number in the data tab. The add-on remembers your settings, moves the dot precisely to its new location, and updates the image on your slide perfectly.

Stop Drawing, Start Presenting

Prioritization meetings are stressful enough without fighting your presentation software. By using a scatter plot to map out your Value vs. Effort matrix, you keep the conversation focused on the data, not the formatting.

Give ExtraChart a try in your next roadmap presentation. You can install it directly from the Google Workspace Marketplace and start building smarter charts today.