Pugh Matrix – Best Practices Online Tools & Templates

A Pugh Matrix is used when a business is assessing which design, concept or idea to pursue from a long list of potential candidates. The Pugh Matrix helps with the selection process by ranking which solutions should become priorities based on how important they are to the business and the customer. It is because of this focus on the customer that the Pugh Matrix requires input captured during Voice of Customer research prior to carrying out the matrix exercise. 

Stuart Pugh, a British product designer and engineer, designed the Pugh Matrix. The matrix provides mathematical rigor in the form of a decision-making tool used with DMADV Six Sigma projects, and it’s core purpose is to help business leaders validate multiple concepts while getting buy-in from senior stakeholders across a team for the final design of a product or service. 

The Matrix requires working with a team that is skilled in concepts of product design, voice of customer research, and weighting criteria. The decision matrix is designed to remove unconscious biases and opinions from the selection process and help teams make fact and number based decisions more effectively. 

The tools that business leaders, product managers and directors must use to enable the successful implementation of the Pugh Matrix are cause and effect analyses, process flow maps, and voice of customer insights.

Unlike most traditional process checklists and problem solving models, upBOARD’s online Pugh Matrix template allows any team or organization to instantly begin working with our web templates and input forms. Our digital platform goes far beyond other software tools by including progress dashboards, data integration from existing documents or other SaaS software, elegant intuitive designs, and full access on any desktop or mobile device.

Learn more about upBOARD’s full portfolio of online digital best practice tools and templates for specific topics, including business strategy, marketing, human resources, operations, innovation, project management, change management, and software development.

Learn more about upBOARD’s portfolio of other business strategy best practice tools and templates, including:

2 X 2 Matrix, ADL Matrix, Affinity Diagrams, Baker’s 4 Strategies of Influence, Balanced Scorecard, Benchmarking, Blue Ocean Strategy, Bowman Strategy Clock, Build-Measure-Learn Feedback Loop, Business Model Canvas, CAGE Distance Framework, Competitive Analysis, Competitive Landscape Analysis, Contingency Planning, Core Competence Analysis, Critical Success Factors, Discovery Driven Planning, Economic Value Added, First Mover Advantage, Five Forces Model, Force Field Analysis, Gap Analysis, GE McKinsey 9-Box Matrix, Go To Market Strategy, Hambrick & Frederickson’s Strategy Diamond, Hedgehog Model, Hook Model of Behavioral Design, Hoshin Planning System, Kay’s Distinctive Capabilities Framework, Key Outcome Indicators, Kotler’s Five Product Levels Model, Kotler’s Pricing Strategies, Lafley & Martin’s Five Step Strategy Model, McKinsey 7S Model, McKinsey’s Seven Degrees of Freedom for Growth, Mergers & Acquisitions, Mission Statements, Mullin’s Seven Domains Model, OGSM Framework, Ohmae’s 3-C’s Model, Partner Relationship Management, PEST Analysis, PESTLE Analysis, Porter’s Diamond, Portfolio Management, Purpose Statements, Pyramid of Purpose, Scenario Planning, Simonson & Rosen’s Influence Mix, SMART Performance Metrics, SMARTER Goals, SOAR, Strategic Goals, Strategy Map, Strategy Roadmap, Strategy Uncertainty Map, SWOT Analysis, TOWS Matrix, Triple Bottom Line, USP Analysis, Value Chain Analysis, Value Disciplines Model, Value Net Model, Values Statement, Vision Statements, VRIO Analysis, and Weisbord’s Six-Box Model.