Method
How the math works
Three inputs, one question: do the hours come back? Net time is returned minus invested. ROI is net divided by invested. A verdict of worth it needs a comfortable margin, not a rounding error.
Meeting
invested = attendees × (minutes ÷ 60) × occurrences
Returned hours are whatever the meeting actually unblocks per occurrence, across the same horizon. A standing sync with six people costs six hours for every hour on the calendar.
Task
invested = setup hours · returned = runs × minutes saved ÷ 60
Automating or delegating costs up front and pays back per run. Break-even is the run where cumulative savings pass the setup cost.
Project
invested = team × hours per person · returned = weekly savings × weeks left
Effort lands before the savings start. The horizon decides whether the project clears its own cost inside the window you care about.