A PICK chart is a Lean Six Sigma tool for organizing process improvement ideas and categorizing them during the Identify and Prioritize Opportunities Phase of a Lean Six Sigma project. It allows for a visual comparison of action items regarding their relevance to the problem they address and the ease/cost of implementation. In VERY rudimentary terms, PICK charts are a Return On Investment (ROI) method.

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What is a PICK chart, and what are its uses?

A PICK chart is a tool to prioritize several action items or problem-solving ideas. It helps you see how essential items compare to one another in terms of their relevance to the problem they're addressing. In VERY rudimentary terms, PICK charts are a Return On Investment (ROI) method.

When faced with multiple improvement ideas, you may use a PICK chart to determine the most useful.

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What are the four categories on a PICK chart?

There are four categories on a 2*2 matrix; horizontal is the scale of payoff (or benefits), vertical is the ease of implementation. Four proposed project actions are provided by deciding where an idea falls on the pick chart: Possible, Implement, Challenge and Kill (thus the acronym PICK).

• Low payoff, easy to do - Possible
• High payoff, easy to do - Implement
• High payoff, hard to do - Challenge
• Low payoff, hard to do - Kill

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Pros and cons of using a PICK chart in Product Development projects

There are pros and cons to using a PICK chart when it comes to product development projects.

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The pros

• It can help you see the big picture and prioritize items.
• It can help you make sure you're not overlooking anything.
• It can help you get buy-in from other team members.

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The cons

• It can be time-consuming.
• It can be challenging to get everyone on board.
• There's always the temptation to move items from one category to another.