| name | niopd-st-rice |
| description | Applies RICE prioritization framework to score and rank features or initiatives. Use for feature prioritization, roadmap planning, resource allocation decisions, or stakeholder alignment on priorities. |
RICE Prioritization Skill
This skill applies the RICE framework (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) to systematically prioritize features, initiatives, or projects.
Theoretical Foundation
Origin
RICE was developed by Intercom as a systematic way to prioritize features in a product backlog, combining quantitative assessment with structured effort estimation.
The RICE Formula
RICE Score = (Reach × Impact × Confidence) ÷ Effort
| Factor | Definition | Scale |
|---|
| Reach | How many customers affected in time period | Number (e.g., users/quarter) |
| Impact | How much will it improve outcomes | 0.25-3 (Minimal to Massive) |
| Confidence | How sure are we of estimates | 20%-100% |
| Effort | Person-months to complete | Number |
Impact Scale
- 3 = Massive impact
- 2 = High impact
- 1 = Medium impact
- 0.5 = Low impact
- 0.25 = Minimal impact
When to Use
- Roadmap planning sessions
- Sprint prioritization
- Feature request evaluation
- Resource allocation decisions
- Stakeholder alignment
Instructions
Step 1: Gather Items
List all features/initiatives to prioritize from:
- Backlog
- Feedback analysis
- Strategic initiatives
- Stakeholder requests
Step 2: Score Reach
For each item:
- "How many customers will this affect in [quarter/month]?"
- Use actual data when available
- Estimate when necessary
Step 3: Score Impact
For each item:
- "How much will this improve outcomes for affected users?"
- Use 0.25-3 scale
- Consider metrics movement
Step 4: Score Confidence
For each item:
- "How confident are we in Reach and Impact estimates?"
- 100% = High certainty (data-backed)
- 80% = Medium (educated guess)
- 50% = Low (speculation)
Step 5: Estimate Effort
For each item:
- "How many person-months to complete?"
- Include design, dev, QA, launch
- Use team input when possible
Step 6: Calculate Scores
Apply formula:
| Feature | Reach | Impact | Confidence | Effort | Score |
|---|
| [F1] | 10,000 | 2 | 80% | 3 | 5,333 |
| [F2] | 5,000 | 3 | 50% | 2 | 3,750 |
Step 7: Rank and Discuss
- Sort by RICE score descending
- Discuss outliers and concerns
- Consider strategic alignment
- Make final priority decisions
Step 8: Generate Report
File path: 02-reports/[YYYYMMDD]-rice-prioritization-v0.md
Contents:
- Prioritized list with scores
- Methodology notes
- Key decisions made
- Next steps
Output Specifications
- File Naming:
[YYYYMMDD]-rice-prioritization-v0.md
- Location:
02-reports/
- Template:
references/rice-template.md
Related Skills
niopd-st-moscow: Alternative prioritization
niopd-ur-kano: Satisfaction-based categorization
niopd-pd-roadmap: Roadmap creation
niopd-bs-feature-planning: Feature ideation