# prioritization frameworks
## Metadata

- Canonical URL: https://6ducklearn.com/skills/prioritization-frameworks/
- Markdown URL: https://6ducklearn.com/skills/prioritization-frameworks/index.md
- Product: skills
- Category: product-management
- Tags: pm-execution, product-management, pm-skills
- Updated: 2026-07-14T03:00:00.357428+00:00
## Summary
Reference guide to 9 prioritization frameworks with formulas, when-to-use guidance, and templates — RICE, ICE, Kano, MoSCoW, Opportunity Score, and more. Use when selecting a prioritization method, comparing frameworks like RICE vs ICE, or learning how different prioritization approaches work.
## Content
## Prioritization Frameworks Reference

A reference guide to help you select and apply the right prioritization framework for your context.

### Core Principle

Never allow customers to design solutions. Prioritize **problems (opportunities)**, not features.

### Opportunity Score (Dan Olsen, *The Lean Product Playbook*)

The recommended framework for prioritizing customer problems.

Survey customers on **Importance** and **Satisfaction** for each need (normalize to 0–1 scale).

Three related formulas:
- **Current value** = Importance × Satisfaction
- **Opportunity Score** = Importance × (1 − Satisfaction)
- **Customer value created** = Importance × (S2 − S1), where S1 = satisfaction before, S2 = satisfaction after

High Importance + low Satisfaction = highest Opportunity Score = best opportunities. Plot on an Importance vs Satisfaction chart — upper-left quadrant is the sweet spot. Prioritizes customer problems, not solutions.

### ICE Framework

Useful for prioritizing initiatives and ideas. Considers not only value but also risk and economic factors.

- **I** (Impact) = Opportunity Score × Number of Customers affected
- **C** (Confidence) = How confident are we? (1-10). Accounts for risk.
- **E** (Ease) = How easy is it to implement? (1-10). Accounts for economic factors.

**Score** = I × C × E. Higher = prioritize first.

### RICE Framework

Splits ICE's Impact into two separate factors. Useful for larger teams that need more granularity.

- **R** (Reach) = Number of customers affected
- **I** (Impact) = Opportunity Score (value per customer)
- **C** (Confidence) = How confident are we? (0-100%)
- **E** (Effort) = How much effort to implement? (person-months)

**Score** = (R × I × C) / E

### 9 Frameworks Overview

| Framework | Best For | Key Insight |
|-----------|----------|-------------|
| Eisenhower Matrix | Personal tasks | Urgent vs Important — for individual PM task management |
| Impact vs Effort | Tasks/initiatives | Simple 2×2 — quick triage, not rigorous for strategic decisions |
| Risk vs Reward | Initiatives | Like Impact vs Effort but accounts for uncertainty |
| **Opportunity Score** | Customer problems | **Recommended.** Importance × (1 − Satisfaction). Normalize to 0–1. |
| Kano Model | Understanding expectations | Must-be, Performance, Attractive, Indifferent, Reverse. For understanding, not prioritizing. |
| Weighted Decision Matrix | Multi-factor decisions | Assign weights to criteria, score each option. Useful for stakeholder buy-in. |
| **ICE** | Ideas/initiatives | Impact × Confidence × Ease. Recommended for quick prioritization. |
| **RICE** | Ideas at scale | (Reach × Impact × Confidence) / Effort. Adds Reach to ICE. |
| MoSCoW | Requirements | Must/Should/Could/Won't. Caution: project management origin. |

### Templates

- [Opportunity Score intro (PDF)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ENbYPmk1i1AKO7UnfyTuULL5GucTVufW/view)
- [Importance vs Satisfaction Template — Dan Olsen (Google Slides)](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jg-LuF_3QHsf6f1nE1f98i4C0aulnRNMOO1jftgti8M/edit#slide=id.g796641d975_0_3)
- [ICE Template (Google Sheets)](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LUfnsPolhZgm7X2oij-7EUe0CJT-Dwr-/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=111307342557889008106&rtpof=true&sd=true)
- [RICE Template (Google Sheets)](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1S-6QpyOz5MCrV7B67LUWdZkAzn38Eahv/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111307342557889008106&rtpof=true&sd=true)

---

### Further Reading

- [The Product Management Frameworks Compendium + Templates](https://www.productcompass.pm/p/the-product-frameworks-compendium)
- [Kano Model: How to Delight Your Customers Without Becoming a Feature Factory](https://www.productcompass.pm/p/kano-model-how-to-delight-your-customers)
- [Continuous Product Discovery Masterclass (CPDM)](https://www.productcompass.pm/p/cpdm) (video course)

## Related Skills

- [brainstorm okrs](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/brainstorm-okrs/index.md): Brainstorm team-level OKRs aligned with company objectives — qualitative objectives with measurable key results. Use when setting quarterly OKRs, aligning team goals with company strategy, drafting objectives, or learning how to write effective OKRs.
- [create prd](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/create-prd/index.md): Create a Product Requirements Document using a comprehensive 8-section template covering problem, objectives, segments, value propositions, solution, and release planning. Use when writing a PRD, documenting product requirements, preparing a feature spec, or reviewing an existing PRD.
- [dummy dataset](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/dummy-dataset/index.md): Generate realistic dummy datasets for testing with customizable columns, constraints, and output formats (CSV, JSON, SQL, Python script). Use when creating test data, building mock datasets, or generating sample data for development and demos.
- [job stories](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/job-stories/index.md): Create job stories using the 'When [situation], I want to [motivation], so I can [outcome]' format with detailed acceptance criteria. Use when writing job stories, creating JTBD-style backlog items, or expressing user situations and motivations.
- [outcome roadmap](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/outcome-roadmap/index.md): Transform an output-focused roadmap into an outcome-focused one that communicates strategic intent. Rewrites initiatives as outcome statements reflecting user and business impacts. Use when shifting to outcome roadmaps, making a roadmap more strategic, or rewriting feature lists as outcomes.
- [pre mortem](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/pre-mortem/index.md): Run a pre-mortem risk analysis on a PRD or launch plan. Categorizes risks as Tigers (real problems), Paper Tigers (overblown concerns), and Elephants (unspoken worries), then classifies as launch-blocking, fast-follow, or track. Use when preparing for launch, stress-testing a product plan, or identifying what could go wrong.