đĨ§ PIE score
Potential x Importance x Ease
What is a PIE score?
The PIE score prioritization technique is a simple and effective way to prioritize items on a product backlog. PIE stands for Potential, Importance, and Ease. Here’s how it works:
đŧ Potential
This refers to the potential impact or value that a particular feature or task could have on the overall goals and success of the product. It involves considering how much a certain improvement or change could positively affect key metrics or user satisfaction.
â Importance
Importance is about assessing how strategically important a feature or task is to the overall objectives of the product or project. It involves aligning the potential impact with the broader goals and priorities of the business.
đ Ease
Ease represents the feasibility or difficulty of implementing a particular feature or task. It takes into account the technical complexity, resource requirements, and time needed for implementation.
= Result
Once you have assigned scores for each item, you can calculate the PIE score for each item using the following formula: PIE score = (Potential x Importance x Ease).
Benefits
â Objectivity
The ICE score prioritization technique allows you to assign scores based on specific criteria, which can help remove personal biases and subjectivity from the prioritization process.
â Impact focus
The ICE score prioritization technique places a strong emphasis on the potential impact of each item, helping you prioritize those items that will have the greatest impact on your project or product.
â Confidence
By factoring in your level of confidence in estimating the impact of each item, the ICE score prioritization technique can help you identify and prioritize items that you feel most confident about.
â Prioritization clarity
The ICE score provides a clear and concise way to prioritize items on a product backlog, making it easier to communicate and share with stakeholders.
ICE checklist
âī¸ 1. Define your criteria
Before you begin, define the criteria you will use to assign scores for Impact, Confidence, and Ease. This will ensure that you have a consistent and objective approach to scoring each item.
âī¸ 2. Assign scores
Assign scores for each item on your product backlog based on the defined criteria. You can use a scale of 1-10 or any other scale that works best for your team.
âī¸ 3. Calculate and sort
Use the ICE formula to calculate the ICE score for each item by multiplying the Impact, Confidence, and Ease scores. Sort the items on your backlog by their ICE scores, from highest to lowest.
âī¸ 4. Review and adjust
Review the items with the highest ICE scores to ensure that they align with your project or product goals. If necessary, adjust the scores based on feedback or additional information.
âī¸ 5. Prioritize
Use the sorted list to prioritize the items on your backlog. Focus on the items with the highest ICE scores, as these are the items that will have the greatest impact, are most confidently estimated, and are easiest to complete.
âī¸ 6. Revisit regularly
Regularly revisit your prioritization to ensure that your priorities align with your project or product goals. As new information becomes available or project objectives shift, you may need to adjust your priorities accordingly.
3 bad practices to avoid
â ī¸ Rely too heavily on the scores
While the scores can provide a useful framework for prioritization, it’s important to also consider other factors, such as strategic goals, customer feedback, and market trends. Avoid solely relying on the scores and use them as part of a broader prioritization process.
â ī¸ Not revisiting regularly
Prioritization is not a one-time activity. It’s important to regularly revisit your prioritization to ensure that it remains aligned with your project or product goals. Failure to do so can result in outdated priorities that may not deliver the desired impact.
â ī¸ Over-complicating the scoring criteria
The ICE score prioritization technique is meant to be simple and straightforward. Avoid overcomplicating the scoring criteria by including too many factors or using overly complex scales. Keep the criteria and scoring scales as simple and consistent as possible to ensure that everyone on the team can understand and use them effectively.