Definition
The Portfolio Rationalization Four Quadrant Model is a framework used by training organizations to evaluate and prioritize their learning portfolio. It helps learning leaders determine which courses to invest in, outsource, redesign or eliminate based on business value.
Overview
The model evaluates each course or program using two key factors:
- Strategic importance: How critical the training is to business objectives
- Level of proprietary content: How unique the content is to the organization
By plotting these two factors on an X/Y axis, organizations can visualize their portfolio and make more informed decisions about where to allocate resources.
Evaluation Criteria
Each course is assessed on a scale of 0 to 10 across both dimensions:
Proprietary Content
Measures how much of the course content is proprietary to the organization.
- 0 = No proprietary content (fully off-the-shelf)
- 10 = Entirely proprietary content (unique processes, systems or knowledge)
Strategic Importance
Measures how closely the course aligns with organizational goals.
- 0 = No relevance to business objectives
- 10 = Mission-critical to organizational success
How the Model Works
Once scored, courses are plotted on a four-quadrant grid. Their position determines how they should be managed within the training portfolio.
The Four Quadrants
Quadrant 1: High Strategic Importance and High Level of Proprietary Content
Scores of 5-10 in Proprietary Information and 5-10 in Strategic Importance mean that a course contains a high level of proprietary information and is strategically important to the business. Courses that fall in Quadrant 1 are considered critical to the business, and should be delivered by subject matter experts (SMEs) from within the organization.
Quadrant 2: High Strategic Importance and Low Proprietary Content
Scores of 5-10 in Strategic Importance and 0-5 in the level of Proprietary Information contained within the course, fall into Quadrant 2. Courses that fall in Quadrant 2 are considered strategically important to the business but contain little to no proprietary information. This means that the content is sourceable from third-party suppliers, but the course must be offered because it is critical for meeting corporate objectives.
Quadrant 3: Low Strategic Importance and High Proprietary Content
Scores of 0-5 in Strategic Importance and 5-10 in the level of Proprietary Information define courses in Quadrant 3. Courses in Quadrant 3 are considered less important to the business but contain a high degree of proprietary intelligence; meaning that the content is not sourceable from other suppliers because of the level of proprietary information, but may not be crucial to the organization’s objectives. Quadrant 3 courses are targets for elimination or avoidance.
Quadrant 4: Low Strategic Importance and Low Proprietary Content
Scores of 0-5 in Strategic Importance and 0-5 in the amount of Proprietary Information fall into Quadrant 4. Courses in Quadrant 4 are considered unessential and should not be part of the organization’s budget or portfolio.
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