Reusable strategic frameworks for decision-making, prioritization, and analysis. Pull these out whenever you're evaluating an initiative, scoping an engagement, or making a big call.
Used in the Initiatives database to rank what to pursue next.
| Factor | What it measures | How to score |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | How many people/accounts does this affect? | Estimate per quarter (e.g., 100 users, 5 clients) |
| Impact | How much does it move the needle per person? | 3 = Massive, 2 = High, 1 = Medium, 0.5 = Low, 0.25 = Minimal |
| Confidence | How sure are you about Reach and Impact? | 100% = High, 80% = Medium, 50% = Low |
| Effort | How many person-weeks to complete? | Estimate in person-weeks |
Formula: RICE Score = (Reach × Impact × Confidence) ÷ Effort
When to use: Quarterly initiative reviews, backlog prioritization, deciding between competing projects.
Tip: Don't overthink the numbers. RICE is useful for relative ranking, not absolute truth. If two items score within 20% of each other, use judgment.
Simple four-bucket classification for scoping.
| Category | Meaning | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Must Have | Non-negotiable. Project fails without it. | If you cut this, the deliverable is broken. |
| Should Have | Important but not critical. | Painful to miss, but the project still works. |
| Could Have | Nice to have. Include if time allows. | First thing to cut when scope gets tight. |
| Won't Have (this time) | Explicitly out of scope. | Saying this out loud prevents scope creep. |
When to use: SOW scoping with clients, sprint planning, feature prioritization.
For personal or team task prioritization when everything feels urgent.
| Urgent | Not Urgent | |
|---|---|---|
| Important | ✅ DO — Handle immediately | 📅 SCHEDULE — Block time for this |
| Not Important | 🔀 DELEGATE — Hand off if possible | 🗑️ DELETE — Stop doing this |
When to use: Weekly planning, when the ticket queue feels overwhelming, coaching team members on time management.