RICEscorering

RICEscorering, more commonly referred to as RICE scoring, is a prioritization framework used in product management and project planning. It scores initiatives on four dimensions: Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort. The typical formula is RICE score = (Reach × Impact × Confidence) / Effort. Reach estimates how many customers or users will be affected in a given period. Impact measures the expected degree of improvement to a key metric, typically on a conservative scale (for example 0.25 to 3). Confidence expresses how certain the estimates are, usually as a percentage or 0-1. Effort represents the total resource cost, commonly measured in person-months or person-days.

In practice, teams gather rough estimates from stakeholders, compute scores, and rank ideas accordingly. The highest-scoring initiatives are prioritized for development in the near term. The method helps normalize disparate ideas into a comparable scale, supports transparent decision making, and can be used in roadmapping and sprint planning. It is often applied with ranges to reflect uncertainty and can be adapted with different scales or endpoints.

Limitations include reliance on subjective estimates and the quality of data. Scores can be sensitive to the chosen scales and unit definitions; It should be used alongside other criteria such as strategic fit, dependencies, risk, and cost-benefit analyses. RICE scoring is one of several frameworks for prioritization and is not a substitute for broader strategic planning.