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Frameworks

Product prioritization frameworks

Every framework with the formula, the inputs and what it replaces.

Pick by job:Score the backlog →Defend the spend →Tell the board →

All frameworks

01 · Costs

●●●A few min (est.)

Build, Buy or Rent: How to Decide on Your Own Numbers

The price tag leaves out part of the cost. Put all of it on one line.

Total = once + monthly × months + yearly × years + your hours × your rate

InputsWhat you pay once · What you pay monthly and yearly · Your own hours · YearsOne total per option, and what could change it
  • Same years for every option, or the comparison means nothing.
  • Your own hours can change the winner.
  • When two options land close, decide on fit.
When to use
When you are choosing between a subscription, a ready-made product and a custom build.
Replaces
Comparing price tags, or comparing only two of the options.
Read the full guide →Run your own numbers →

02 · Costs

●●●~5 min (est.)

What an Employee or Software Team Really Costs

Salary is where the cost starts. Know the whole number before you hire.

Full cost = pay × 1.43 (BLS average) + tools + share of a manager + setup time

InputsPay per person · Number of people · Tools per person · Manager's share · Setup timeYearly cost of the team, and a cost per person-week
  • US private employers pay about 1.43 times wages once benefits are counted (BLS, June 2026).
  • Adds tools, a share of a manager and the time to get people going.
  • Ends in a price per person-week you can compare with a quote.
When to use
When you are comparing a hire with outsourcing, or pricing work in people's time.
Replaces
Comparing a salary with a quote.
Read the full guide →Compare hire and outsource →

03 · Decisions

●●●~15 min (est.)

SCQA and the Minto Pyramid for Board Decisions

Open with the tension, answer with a number, then defend it.

Situation → Complication → Question → Answer ▲ arguments ▲ facts

InputsWhat everyone agrees on · What changed · The one decision · Your recommendation and its numbersAn opening and a one-page argument that end in a decision
  • The Question is a choice, so the meeting cannot end on "thoughts?".
  • The Answer carries a number and a what-if.
  • The pyramid keeps every argument tied to the one recommendation.
When to use
When your last review ended with "let's circle back next month".
Replaces
Status updates that bury the ask on slide 27.
Read the full guide →Get your number →

04 · Scoring

●●●~10 min (est.)

RICE vs FVI: Ranking Work by Reach or by Money

The same backlog can come out in a different order. Here is why.

RICE = (R × I × C) ÷ E vs FVI = ($ × Confidence) ÷ person-weeks

InputsReach · Impact or dollar value · Confidence · EffortRICE: a rank. FVI: dollars per person-week.
  • RICE counts people. FVI counts money.
  • FVI is our own method, not a published standard.
  • When they disagree, ask why before you pick one.
When to use
When someone asks how much money an item is worth and a score of 3 is no answer.
Replaces
Arguing about a rank instead of the numbers behind it.
Read the full guide →Score one item →

05 · Scoring

●●●~5 min (est.)

RICE Prioritization Framework

Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort. One score, one ranked backlog.

RICE = (Reach × Impact × Confidence) ÷ Effort

InputsReach (users/qtr) · Impact (0.25–3) · Confidence (0–1) · Effort (person-months)A single comparable score per initiative
  • Five-point Impact scale limits false precision in the score.
  • Confidence haircut can demote hype-driven priorities.
  • Outputs a single rank you can compare across squads in one table.
When to use
Weekly backlog grooming for a single product team that needs a fast, defensible rank.
Replaces
Gut-feel priority calls and stakeholder volume contests.
Read the full guide →Price the top item →

06 · Finance

●●●~10 min (est.)

Cost of Delay & WSJF Prioritization Guide

Every week you don't ship this, you're paying for it. Price the wait.

CoD = BV + TC + RRO&E · WSJF = CoD ÷ Job Size

InputsBusiness Value ($/wk) · Time Criticality ($/wk) · RRO&E ($/wk) · Job Size (weeks)CoD in $/week + WSJF rank per initiative
  • Dollar-per-week output that sets against squad cost and WACC.
  • WSJF sequences the queue: same CoD, smaller job ships first.
  • Works with NPV: NPV picks the shortlist, CoD/WSJF sequences it.
When to use
When the CFO asks 'what does another quarter of delay cost us?' and RICE has no answer.
Replaces
MoSCoW / RICE debates where 'must-have' hides the economic case for shipping now.
Read the full guide →Price the top job →

07 · Research

●●●~10 min (est.)

Kano Model Guide

Classify features by how customers react to having them, or not.

Functional answer × Dysfunctional answer → Kano category

InputsFunctional question answer · Dysfunctional question answerOne Kano category per feature
  • Two survey questions per feature.
  • Five categories, classified with the interactive table on the page.
When to use
When you need to know which features customers expect and which delight them.
Replaces
Feature lists where every request looks equally important.
Read the full guide →Price a feature →

Pick the right one

One table. Match the job to the math.

FrameworkUse forMathTimeOutput
Build, Buy or Rent: How to Decide on Your Own Numbers
Costs
When you are choosing between a subscription, a ready-made product and a custom build.●●●A few min (est.)One total per option, and what could change it
What an Employee or Software Team Really Costs
Costs
When you are comparing a hire with outsourcing, or pricing work in people's time.●●●~5 min (est.)Yearly cost of the team, and a cost per person-week
SCQA and the Minto Pyramid for Board Decisions
Decisions
When your last review ended with "let's circle back next month".●●●~15 min (est.)An opening and a one-page argument that end in a decision
RICE vs FVI: Ranking Work by Reach or by Money
Scoring
When someone asks how much money an item is worth and a score of 3 is no answer.●●●~10 min (est.)RICE: a rank. FVI: dollars per person-week.
RICE Prioritization Framework
Scoring
Weekly backlog grooming for a single product team that needs a fast, defensible rank.●●●~5 min (est.)A single comparable score per initiative
Cost of Delay & WSJF Prioritization Guide
Finance
When the CFO asks 'what does another quarter of delay cost us?' and RICE has no answer.●●●~10 min (est.)CoD in $/week + WSJF rank per initiative
Kano Model Guide
Research
When you need to know which features customers expect and which delight them.●●●~10 min (est.)One Kano category per feature