PrioritizationRICE

What is RICE (RICE Scoring)?

RICE is a prioritization framework developed at Intercom. It combines Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort into a score for each initiative. Higher scores indicate more estimated value per unit of effort, adjusted for confidence. The ranking depends on the estimates you enter.

Formula

RICE = (Reach x Impact x Confidence) / Effort

Reach: number of users affected per time period (e.g. 500 users/quarter). Impact: effect per user on a scale of 0.25 (minimal) to 3 (massive). Confidence: how sure you are about estimates, as a percentage (0-100%). Effort: person-weeks of work required. Example: Reach=500, Impact=2, Confidence=80%, Effort=4 weeks. RICE = (500 x 2 x 0.8) / 4 = 200.

Benchmarks and interpretation

  • RICE scores are relative, not absolute - the value comes from ranking, not the raw number
  • Impact scale: 3 = massive, 2 = high, 1 = medium, 0.5 = low, 0.25 = minimal
  • Intercom uses 100% for high confidence, 80% for medium, and 50% for low confidence
  • Intercom uses person-months for effort; this example uses person-weeks. Keep the unit consistent across items
  • Use consistent scoring definitions so the team can compare assumptions across initiatives

When to use RICE

  • Ranking a large backlog of features or experiments to identify the highest-value work
  • Facilitating alignment in cross-functional planning sessions by making scoring assumptions explicit
  • Comparing a new feature request against existing backlog items using the same criteria
  • Building a data-driven argument for deprioritising low-RICE items pushed by stakeholders
Common mistakes
  • Inflating Reach or Impact estimates to make a favoured initiative score higher, which makes the ranking misleading
  • Ignoring Confidence entirely and treating all estimates as certain, which leads to over-investment in speculative bets
  • Applying RICE to items that are already committed (legal requirements, platform dependencies) - only score discretionary work
Practical tips
  • Score Confidence conservatively - teams consistently overestimate how much they know about impact before building
  • Run a calibration session where the team scores 3-5 past initiatives to align on what "Impact = 1" and "Impact = 3" look like for your product
  • Combine RICE with strategic themes: the highest-RICE item might not align with your current quarter's strategic focus

Related terms

ICE- ICE ScoringKano Model

Free RICE Calculator

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