![\"RICE](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/RICE-framework-cover.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n- \n
- The RICE scoring model is a prioritization tool for evaluating ideas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- RICE was co-developed by Sean McBride, a former product manager at Intercom, to resolve common decision-making challenges in product management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The framework is based on 4 factors: Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The main benefits of this prioritization method include data-driven evaluation, better time and resource allocation, and transparency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- This scoring system uses a simple formula: Reach x Impact x Confidence \/ Effort = RICE score.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What is the RICE framework? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The RICE framework is a prioritization method for assessing the potential value and priority of ideas and initiatives.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Listed as one of the top roadmapping tools and techniques<\/a> by the members of the Forbes Technology Council, the framework was originally developed to help product managers<\/a> evaluate competing ideas in their product roadmaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The framework is also known as the RICE prioritization method, framework, process, or model, the RICE scoring model, the RICE scoring system, and the RICE analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RICE framework belongs to the realm of project prioritization and is one of the many frameworks you can use. Check out our guide to project prioritization to learn why it\u2019s important and how to do it properly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Master Project Prioritization in 5 Easy Steps (+ Templates)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
What does the acronym RICE stand for?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The acronym RICE stands for the 4 factors used to assess idea priority:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- R<\/strong>each,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- I<\/strong>mpact,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- C<\/strong>onfidence, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- E<\/strong>ffort.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ll explain these factors in more detail a bit further below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is the formula for the RICE scoring model?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The formula for the RICE model is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
R<\/strong>each x I<\/strong>mpact x C<\/strong>onfidence \/ E<\/strong>ffort = RICE score<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How does the RICE prioritization framework work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To do the RICE analysis, you must evaluate your ideas or initiatives according to the 4 above-mentioned factors and use the formula to calculate the RICE score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you have the RICE scores for all your ideas, you can analyze them and arrange them according to priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s how that can be done in a project management tool<\/a> like Plaky<\/a> by CAKE.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Example](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/example-of-a-prioritized-product-roadmap-in-Plaky.png\")
Example of a prioritized product roadmap in Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Every organization is free to come up with its own scoring criteria for the following 4 factors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To make it easier to explain the framework, we\u2019ll stick with the original scoring system suggested by Sean McBride, the co-developer of the framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RICE factor #1: Reach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reach is an estimate of how many people will be affected by an idea in a specific time frame.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This component plays into the idea of purposeful product management<\/a>, in that it helps identify initiatives that resolve customer problems, concerns, or needs, and thus, have a wider reach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To calculate this factor, you must first decide the context of the \u201creach\u201d and the time period you want to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, let\u2019s say that Reach refers to the number of people who\u2019ll use a feature in the next month. This new feature will be delivered to 6,000 monthly active users, but you estimate it\u2019ll be used by 40% of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, your Reach score is 40% x 6,000 = 2,400 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The higher the Reach, the better the potential impact of your project, so rely on real metrics rather than guesstimates. You can also use market research, customer surveys, and user analytics to ensure the data is as accurate as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RICE factor #2: Impact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Impact shows you how much the project will affect a specific goal<\/strong>, such as better customer experience or some other business objective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, if you\u2019re looking to sell a new product feature to as many customers as possible, the feature that boosts the conversion rate should be prioritized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, if your goal as a company is to increase customer delight, then you\u2019ll prioritize features that improve customer satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it\u2019s difficult to measure, the RICE framework prescribes a simple scoring system for determining an idea\u2019s impact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Massive impact \u2014 3,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- High impact \u2014 2,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Medium impact \u2014 1,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Low impact \u2014 0.5, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Minimal impact \u2014 0.25.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
RICE factor #3: Confidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Confidence shows how sure you are about your estimates.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This score mainly serves to curb your enthusiasm regarding projects that seem great but their Reach, Impact, or Effort scores aren\u2019t exactly backed by reliable data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Essentially, if you\u2019ve had to rely on your gut feeling or anecdotal evidence to determine some of the other factors, the Confidence score should reassure you and give you more control over the prioritization process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think of the Confidence component as a safeguard. It\u2019s your chance to weed out accidental bias and projects with doubtful chances of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In RICE analysis, Confidence is expressed as a percentage. Once again, you can rely on a simple scale here to determine how confident you are about a project idea:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- High confidence \u2014 100%,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Medium confidence \u2014 80%, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Low confidence \u2014 50%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Anything below 50% is considered a total shot in the dark by McBride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n \n Free project management software <\/span>\nTake control of your team's workload and achieve better project results with Plaky by CAKE.com.<\/p>\n
\n \n Sign up <\/a>\n \n Learn more <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n ![\"Plaky](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/default.png\")
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\n\n\nRICE factor #4: Effort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Effort indicates the amount of time the project needs to be completed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
To calculate the Effort score, consider the number of people you\u2019d need for the project and how much time they\u2019d take to complete it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most often, Effort is expressed as person-months, referring to the work 1 team member can do in a month\u2019s time. However, you can also express it as person-hours, person-weeks, person-Sprints, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, an idea might require a 5-person team working full-time to complete it in a month, so the Effort score would be 5 person-months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, you may have 2 people working on the project for 3 months. In that case, the Effort score is 2 x 3 = 6 person-months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These estimates are sort of rough, so it\u2019s best to use whole numbers here. Still, if a task would take only half a month or less, use 0.5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Effort is the only \u201cnegative\u201d factor in the framework, so it\u2019s used as a denominator in the RICE equation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the higher the Effort score, the worse the project\u2019s RICE score since you\u2019d have to work harder and longer to complete the project.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"RICE](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/RICE-framework-components.png\")
RICE framework components<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another prioritization tool that uses similar parameters is the impact effort matrix. Check it out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- How to Use Impact Effort Matrix for Improved Prioritization<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
An example of a calculated RICE score<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s look at a practical example to better illustrate how you can apply the RICE equation to your own project ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imagine you\u2019re part of a team that has developed and continuously works on a social movie cataloging app. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The app currently has 8,000 active users, and you\u2019re looking to prioritize the product roadmap for Q1 of the upcoming year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To properly use the RICE framework for your roadmap, you need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Define your project ideas,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Score your ideas,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Calculate the RICE scores, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Analyze the results. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s go through each step in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not sure how to plan your product roadmap? Use Plaky\u2019s free product roadmap template to keep your team aligned around the same goals and effectively track project performance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Product Roadmap Template<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Step #1: Define the project ideas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your movie cataloging app has been doing well so far, but users have given you some feedback on the community forum and are asking for the following features or changes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Custom update statuses \u2014 right now, users can only choose from 2 different statuses (Watched and Want to Watch). This feature would let them customize their statuses and potentially increase their engagement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Improved search and filter options \u2014 currently, the app offers a rudimentary search option by actor, director, or movie title. Users want more options, such as genre, length, and publishing date filters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Reports \u2014 app users have also expressed their interest in seeing their movie statistics, e.g., how many movies they\u2019ve watched in a month, their most-watched genres, and similar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Step #2: Score your ideas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Before scoring your ideas, you should determine the context of each RICE factor and what it means. Here\u2019s how we\u2019ll measure the components in this example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Reach<\/strong> \u2014 number of users the feature or change will impact in Q1.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Impact<\/strong> \u2014 the estimated impact the feature or change will have on each user, ranging from 0.25 (minimal impact) to 3 (massive impact).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Confidence<\/strong> \u2014 the level of confidence you have in each project idea, ranging from low (50%) and medium (80%) to high confidence (100%).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Effort <\/strong>\u2014 the amount of time your teammates need to complete a project, expressed in person-months.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
After going through the data and getting input from other project stakeholders<\/a>, here\u2019s how you\u2019ve scored these 3 project ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Impact<\/strong> \u2014 the estimated impact the feature or change will have on each user, ranging from 0.25 (minimal impact) to 3 (massive impact).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Reach<\/strong> \u2014 number of users the feature or change will impact in Q1.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Product Roadmap Template<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
- How to Use Impact Effort Matrix for Improved Prioritization<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
- I<\/strong>mpact,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- R<\/strong>each,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Master Project Prioritization in 5 Easy Steps (+ Templates)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"Plaky](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/default@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\n\n\n![\"RICE](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/RICE-framework-example-in-Plaky.png\")
![\"Sorting](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/sorting-projects-in-Plaky-according-to-their-RICE-scores.png\")
![\"Plaky's](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Plakys-RICE-framework-templates.png\")
![\"Karol](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Karol-Klaczynski.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Jan](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Jan-Schiller.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Plaky](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/pricing@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\n\n\n