What Is the RICE Prioritization Model And How Does It Work?

In the bustling heart of tech, where new ideas sprout faster than we can tend to them, Intercom—a messaging software company—found itself at a crossroads. Sean McBride, a product manager at Intercom, along with his team, rifled through a buffet of prioritization models, trying to find the one that would best serve their unique challenges. And while these pre-existing models offered insights, none truly resonated with the precise needs of Intercom’s ever-expanding universe of project ideas.

So, what does a company do when it’s caught between a rock and a hard place? It innovates.

McBride and his team weren’t about to let existing models hold them back. They rolled up their sleeves and carved out their own….

Enter the RICE prioritization model—a fresh, pragmatic approach that melds four clear-cut factors: reach, impact, confidence, and effort.

By devising a formula that churned these elements together, the team birthed a tool that spat out a clear, concise score for any project idea thrown its way. No more second-guessing. No more “what if?” Just a straight-up, objective system to guide their product roadmap. And guess what? This wasn’t just a makeshift tool—it dramatically refined Intercom’s decision-making prowess.

Stripped down to its core, RICE is a beacon for product managers navigating the foggy waters of product roadmaps. It’s a straightforward framework, yet profound in its application, helping teams pinpoint which projects deserve the limelight based on four pivotal criteria. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the tidal wave of tasks demanding your attention, RICE might just be your lifesaver.

Now, let’s uncover the heart of the RICE model and learn how you too can wield it in your arena.

The 4 Factors of the RICE Prioritization Model

RICE stands as a compass, directing you through the storm of decisions with its four cardinal points:

Reach

Here’s where we step back from our personal inclinations, putting ourselves in the shoes of the users.

Reach asks a critical question: how many people will this project resonate with over a defined period? For example, for my team at LifeHack, this might translate to “how many members will this project impact over a single quarter?”.

The key? Concrete numbers. No magic, no guessing—reach is framed in terms of people or events per time period, be it “customers per quarter” or “sales per month”. It calls for data-driven evidence, not hopeful conjectures pulled from the ether.

Impact

Impact is the muscle of the project, the force it exerts on individual users. Will it nudge the needle, and if so, how far?

For one team, it might be quantified as “how much will this project increase the conversion rate when a user subscribes to it?”

Exact measurement can be elusive, so Intercom sets a scale

3 for “massive impact”2 for “high”1 for “medium”

It’s a system that, while not perfect, avoids leaving us stranded in the swamp of subjective guesswork.

Confidence

Amid the sparkle of ambitious ideas, confidence acts as the reality check. It begs the question: how certain are you, really, about these estimates? This factor is the reins that slow you down when you’re charging ahead with little more than high hopes.

Confidence is expressed as a percentage. Simple choices keep the process nimble and avoid decision quagmire:

100% for “high confidence”80% for “medium”50% for “low”

It’s a moment for candid reflection: how solid is the ground you’re building on?

Effort

Effort is the resource toll: the time and energy that you and your team will need to pour into this project. It’s counted in “person-months”, a rough estimate of the work one team member can do in a month.

Here, whole numbers (or 0.5 for lighter loads) suffice. In RICE, more effort doesn’t earn a gold star—it actually dilutes the score, reminding you that speed and agility are virtues.

In a world where ‘more’ is often seen as ‘better’, RICE flips the script. It’s the quiet but steadfast guide that whispers,

“Choose wisely. Make it count.”

How to Use the RICE Model (Step-by-Step Guide)

The RICE model isn’t a complex riddle—it’s a compass, designed to steer you effectively through the waves of projects and features..

1. Map Out the Terrain

First, jot down a list of the potential new product features waiting to be prioritized. This isn’t limited to the new and shiny; it includes the stalwarts of your backlog too.

2. Assign the Scores

Estimate:

Reach. For each venture on your list, gauge how many users will feel its presence. A specific time frame can keep this tidy—like users per month. If revenue sings to you, MRR is a worthy number to serenade.Impact. Foresee the ripples each project could make on user satisfaction or revenue. Your scale might read ‘minimal’ at the low end and crescendo to ‘massive’. Tune this scale to the melodies of your customer feedback.Effort. Sum up the hours or months your team needs to invest across all fronts—development, design, testing.Confidence. Measuring the strength of your convictions, are these estimates rock solid (100%) or more akin to throwing darts in the dark (
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