Strategic Importance Analysis, or more commonly known as Quadrant Analysis, is a graphics/statistics process, popularized almost 30 years ago, as a method of improving competitive performance, and has evolved over the years.  Its purpose is to focus organization efforts on the specific product, service or management attributes whose improvement would most strongly impact perceptions.

A quadrant analysis study would typically determine, for example, which management factors are of relevance to employees, then a survey undertaken asking [of] how satisfied the employee is with each of those factors, and how satisfied they are with the overall environment [perceptions of those factors.]  Analysis is then performed to determine the average satisfaction with each factor, and the relative impact or importance of each factor on the overall employee satisfaction with the company.

While a number of methodological issues remain, the method is widely used in the industry.  Its graphical nature and intuitive appeal make it an easily understood tool for both managers and workers, providing direction and motivation for product/process improvement.

An example of this output can be found below:

This graphic analysis would indicate:

1. Falling under the high satisfaction and high importance quadrant, this company should promote it's outstanding customer service as well as the fact that they are reliable, protect the environment and have high water quality.

2. However, having fallen under low satisfaction and high importance, this company should find a way to improve their nonemergency response time as well as their focus on the customers.