Reach × Impact × Confidence ÷ Effort. Add each initiative, score the four dimensions, let the calculator sort them. The scores are only as good as the inputs — but the framework forces honest, comparable estimates.
RICE, popularised by Intercom's product team in 2017, scores each initiative on four dimensions and combines them into a comparable number.
Reach: how many people this will affect in a time period (e.g. users per quarter). Count real humans, not sessions.
Impact: per-user effect on the primary metric. Intercom's canonical scale: 3 = massive, 2 = high, 1 = medium, 0.5 = low, 0.25 = minimal. Not a percentage.
Confidence: how sure you are in the Reach and Impact estimates. 100% for strong evidence, 80% for medium, 50% for a hunch. Below 50% is a signal to do more research before shipping.
Effort: person-months of work. Round up — teams consistently underestimate.
Use RICE to force comparable thinking, not as the final word. Related: ICE calculator (lighter alternative), method finder → prioritise.