What is Pareto principle ? | Definition from TechTarget (2024)

The Pareto principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, is a theory maintaining that 80 percent of the output from a given situation or system is determined by 20 percent of the input.

The principle doesn’t stipulate that all situations will demonstrate that precise ratio – it refers to a typical distribution. More generally, the principle can be interpreted to say that a minority of inputs results in the majority of outputs.

Here are a few examples of the Pareto principle in action:

  • 20 percent of employees produce 80 percent of a company’s results.
  • 20 percent of a given employee’s time yields 80 percent of their output.
  • 20 percent of software bugs cause 80 percent of the software’s failures.
  • 20 percent of a company’s investments produce 80 percent of its investment profits.

The principle is named for Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist. In 1906, Pareto noted that 20 percent of the population in Italy owned 80 percent of the property. He proposed that this ratio could be found many places in the physical world and theorized it might indicate a natural law.

In the 1940s, Pareto’s theory was advanced by Dr. Joseph Juran, an American electrical engineer who is widely credited with being the father of quality control. It was Dr. Juran who decided to call the 80/20 ratio the "The Pareto Principle." Applying the Pareto Principle to business metrics helps to separate the "vital few" (the 20 percent that has the most impact) from the "useful many" (the other 80 percent).

Applications of the Pareto principle:

A Pareto chart illustrates the Pareto principle by mapping frequency, with the assumption that the more frequently something happens, the more impact it has on outcome.

Pareto efficiency is a balance of resource distribution such that one individual’s lot cannot be improved without impairing the lot of another individual.

A Pareto improvement is assistance that benefits one individual without causing impairment to another.

Another application of the Pareto principle is the 96-minute rule, which maintains that knowledge workers should devote themselves to their most important tasks for that time period each day to improve productivity.

Learn more:
Understanding the Pareto Principle (The 80/20 Rule)

This was last updated in August 2013

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What is Pareto principle ? | Definition from TechTarget (2024)

FAQs

What is the 80 20 principle summary? ›

"The 80/20 Principle asserts that a minority of cause, input, or effort usually lead to a majority of the results, outputs, or rewards." "Celebrate exceptional productivity, rather than raise average efforts. Look for the short cut, rather than run the full course.

What is the key lesson of the Pareto Principle ________? ›

The Pareto Principle specifies that 80% of consequences come from 20% of the causes, asserting an unequal relationship between inputs and outputs. Pareto analysis states that 80% of a project's results are due to 20% of the work, or conversely, 80% of problems can be traced to 20% of the causes.

What is Pareto Principle in simple words? ›

The Pareto principle (also known as the 80/20 rule) is a phenomenon that states that roughly 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. In this article, we break down how you can use this principle to help prioritize tasks and business efforts.

What is the 80-20 rule in technology? ›

The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, is popular in various industries, including software development. The idea is that 20% of developers' time is spent on work that results in 80% of the value created.

What is the 80-20 rule activities? ›

Recognizing your 20 percent

Simply put, the 80/20 rule states that the relationship between input and output is rarely, if ever, balanced. When applied to work, it means that approximately 20 percent of your efforts produce 80 percent of the results.

How do you master the 80-20 rule? ›

Steps to apply the 80/20 Rule
  1. Identify all your daily/weekly tasks.
  2. Identify key tasks.
  3. What are the tasks that give you more return?
  4. Brainstorm how you can reduce or transfer the tasks that give you less return.
  5. Create a plan to do more that brings you more value.
  6. Use 80/20 to prioritize any project you're working on.
Mar 29, 2020

What are 3 real life applications of the 80 20 principle? ›

For instance, the 80% of people you spend time with who only add 20% of the pleasure in your life (spend less time with them). The 80% of crap you use 20% of the time (throw it out or sell it). The 80% of the clothes you wear 20% of the time (same thing).

What are the ideas of Pareto? ›

The Pareto Principle states that 80 percent of a project's benefit comes from 20 percent of the work. Or, conversely, that 80 percent of problems can be traced back to 20 percent of causes. Pareto Analysis identifies the problem areas or tasks that will have the biggest payoff.

What is the goal of Pareto efficiency? ›

Pareto optimality (also referred to as Pareto efficiency) is a standard often used in economics. It describes a situation where no further improvements to society's well being can be made through a reallocation of resources that makes at least one person better off without making someone else worse off.

What is the 20 percent rule? ›

What Is the Twenty Percent Rule? In finance, the twenty percent rule is a convention used by banks in relation to their credit management practices. Specifically, it stipulates that debtors must maintain bank deposits that are equal to at least 20% of their outstanding loans.

How do you use the 80-20 rule example? ›

To set goals with the 80-20 rule, you primarily establish that 20% of your efforts/tasks will result in 80% of your results. For example, at work, 20% of the effort you put into your job will result in 80% of your tasks being completed/successful.

Does the 80-20 rule still apply? ›

This is why the 80-20 rule is usually used in business, but you can also apply it to your personal goals, like finances and spending or even learning a new skill. The 80-20 rule requires you to throw out a few time-honored myths about productivity. First, the myth that everything matters equally – it doesn't.

What is the purpose of a Pareto analysis quizlet? ›

Pareto analysis is a formal technique for finding the changes that will give the biggest benefits. The Pareto principle would suggest that the "vital few" account for the bulk of the effect while the "useful many" account for a smaller portion of the effect.

Which of the following is the Pareto principle quizlet? ›

Which of the following best describes the Pareto principle? It is the concept stating that 80% of the problem is caused by 20% of the contributing root causes.

What does the 80-20 rule mean quizlet? ›

Also known as the 80/20 rule, is a theory maintaining that 80 percent of the output from a given situation or system is determined by 20 percent of the input. Tap the card to flip 👆

How is Pareto principle used in Six Sigma? ›

The Pareto Principle helps Six Sigma practitioners see that most of a process's problems will result from a small number of causes. The Pareto Chart provides additional detail by displaying the causes of defects and showing how often these defects occur or how much they cost.

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