A framework that helps product managers decide which features, projects, and initiatives to work on first by quantifying their potential value.
About this framework
Creator:
Intercom / Sean McBride
Used for:
Prioritization
The RICE scoring framework is a prioritization framework used by product managers to assess the value of potential features or initiatives. It stands for Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort, and each of these factors is scored on a scale of 1 to 3.
Reach: This measures the number of people who will be affected by the feature or initiative. For example, a feature that affects all users of a product will have a higher reach than a feature that only affects a small subset of users.
Impact: This measures the degree of positive change that the feature or initiative will create for users. For example, a feature that reduces the time it takes users to complete a task will have a higher impact than a feature that simply adds a new feature to the product.
Confidence: This measures how confident you are in your estimates of reach and impact. If you have a lot of data to support your estimates, then you can score confidence higher. If you have less data, then you should score confidence lower.
Effort: This measures the amount of time and resources that will be required to implement the feature or initiative. For example, a feature that requires a lot of development work will have a higher effort score than a feature that can be implemented quickly.
To calculate the RICE score for a feature or initiative, simply multiply the reach, impact, and confidence scores together and then divide the result by the effort score. For example, if a feature has a reach of 100,000 users, an impact of 2, a confidence of 2, and an effort of 1, then the RICE score would be 400.
The higher the RICE score, the more valuable the feature is considered to be. This means that features with the highest RICE scores should be prioritized first.
The RICE scoring framework can be used to prioritize features or initiatives in a number of ways. For example, you can:
Sort features or initiatives by their RICE score to identify the ones with the highest potential value.
Set a minimum RICE score for features or initiatives that you are willing to work on.
Use RICE scores to compare different features or initiatives to see which ones are the best use of your time and resources.
The RICE scoring framework is a simple and effective way to prioritize features or initiatives. It is easy to use and can be adapted to the specific needs of your product or team. If you are looking for a way to make better decisions about which features to work on, then the RICE scoring framework is a great option.
Here are some additional tips for using the RICE scoring framework:
Be realistic with your estimates: When scoring reach, impact, and confidence, it is important to be realistic with your estimates. If you overestimate the value of a feature, you may end up wasting time and resources on something that is not as valuable as you thought.
Iterate: The RICE scoring framework is not a one-time process. As you learn more about your users and your product, you should revisit your RICE scores and make adjustments as needed.
Get input from others: When scoring features or initiatives, it is helpful to get input from other people on your team. This can help you to get a more balanced perspective and to identify potential risks or challenges.
The RICE scoring framework is a powerful tool that can help product managers make better decisions about which features to prioritize. By understanding the value of different features, product managers can create products that are more valuable to their users and more successful.