# Prioritization — Exercises

## Exercise 1: RICE Calculation

**Task:** Compute RICE scores for these three initiatives. Use the same timeframe (per quarter).

- **A:** Reach 5,000, Impact 2, Confidence 80%, Effort 2 person-months
- **B:** Reach 3,000, Impact 1, Confidence 100%, Effort 0.5 person-months
- **C:** Reach 8,000, Impact 0.5, Confidence 50%, Effort 4 person-months

Rank them. Then: Which initiative has the highest score, and why?

**Validation:**
- [ ] RICE formula applied correctly: (R × I × C) / E
- [ ] A ≈ 4,000, B ≈ 6,000, C ≈ 500
- [ ] Rank order: B, A, C
- [ ] Explanation ties score to the formula

**Hints:**
1. Convert Confidence: 80% = 0.8, 100% = 1, 50% = 0.5
2. A: (5000 × 2 × 0.8) / 2 = 4000
3. B: (3000 × 1 × 1) / 0.5 = 6000
4. C: (8000 × 0.5 × 0.5) / 4 = 500

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## Exercise 2: MoSCoW Triage

**Task:** You're planning a "v2 search" release. You have 8 items. Assign each to M/S/C/W. Enforce: max 3 Must, max 3 Should.

Items: (1) Basic keyword search, (2) Filters, (3) Search suggestions, (4) Export results, (5) Save searches, (6) Analytics dashboard, (7) API for search, (8) Keyboard shortcuts.

**Validation:**
- [ ] No more than 3 Must
- [ ] No more than 3 Should
- [ ] Could and Won't have at least one item each
- [ ] Justification for at least 2 Must items

**Hints:**
1. "Basic keyword search" is likely Must—without it, there's no search
2. "Export results" might be Should or Could depending on user needs
3. "API for search" might be Won't for v2 if target is end-users first

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## Exercise 3: Impact Map From Goal

**Task:** Goal: "Reduce support tickets about 'how do I reset my password' by 30% in Q3." Build an impact map: 2 actors, 2 impacts per actor, 2 deliverables per impact.

**Validation:**
- [ ] Both actors are plausible contributors to the goal
- [ ] Impacts describe behavior change, not features
- [ ] Deliverables trace back to impacts
- [ ] At least one assumption is stated explicitly

**Hints:**
1. Actors: users who forget passwords, support agents
2. Impact for users: "successfully self-serve reset" vs "call support"
3. Deliverables: clearer UX, email with reset link, in-app reset flow

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## Exercise 4: Value vs Effort Plot

**Task:** Take 6 initiatives. Define "value" (e.g., revenue impact, strategic fit) and "effort" (person-weeks) for your context. Plot each on a 2×2 matrix. Identify: 1 quick win, 1 big bet, 1 avoid.

**Validation:**
- [ ] Value and effort are defined before plotting
- [ ] All 6 initiatives are placed
- [ ] Quick win, big bet, and avoid are labeled and justified
- [ ] "Avoid" item has a reason it's still on the list (or should be dropped)

**Hints:**
1. Quick win: high value, low effort — do first
2. Big bet: high value, high effort — plan carefully
3. Avoid: low value, high effort — don't build unless strategic

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## Exercise 5: Defend a Priority

**Task:** You've prioritized "Dark mode" over "Export to PDF" using RICE. A stakeholder says: "Export is critical for our enterprise users. How did you decide?" Write your response in 4–6 sentences.

**Validation:**
- [ ] Response references RICE (or your framework)
- [ ] Explains why Dark mode scored higher (show the numbers)
- [ ] Acknowledges the stakeholder's concern
- [ ] Offers a path forward (e.g., re-score with different inputs, add to next quarter)

**Hints:**
1. Show your work: Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort for both
2. "Enterprise users" might change Reach if they're a distinct segment
3. Offer to re-run with updated assumptions if they provide data