Purpose
Helps clarify target group, value, goals, and priorities in concrete terms. It connects customer value, product logic, and decision priorities. The result is captured as an ICE table and top-ideas list.
Product Strategy
ICE Scoring
Moves target group, value, goals, and priorities toward a concrete result through "prepare the idea backlog", "define scales for I, C, and E", and "select top ideas for testing or building".
Which ideas give us the highest learning rate per effort and which should we intentionally exclude?
LowWorkshop + async30-60 min
How it works
The team follows the steps "prepare the idea backlog", "define scales for I, C, and E", "score each idea", "multiply and sort", and "select top ideas for testing or building". Each step is made visible. At the end, an ICE table and top-ideas list are available so decisions, tests, or actions can continue directly.
Visual orientation
Method sketch for a quick mental model.
Flow
- 1Prepare the idea backlog
- 2Define scales for I, C, and E
- 3Score each idea
- 4Multiply and sort
- 5Select top ideas for testing or building
The runsheet guides execution with 4 phases, timeboxes, 6 pitfalls, and clear stop criteria.
Open runsheetIdeal for
- Growth backlogs
- Experiment pipelines
- Quick reviews
Not good for
- Strategic roadmap decisions
Deep dive
In detail
ICE Scoring comes from the growth-hacking world and was popularized by Sean Ellis, among others. The three dimensions are intentionally rough so that ideas can be compared quickly. ICE works well for idea backlogs and growth experiments, but it is less rigorous than RICE.
Facilitation
Define the scales in advance. Do not average away disagreement; discuss the differences instead.
Output artifacts
ICE-TabelleTop-Ideenliste
Artifact templates
ICE Scoring Working TemplateCompact working template for ICE Scoring with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.markdown
ICE Scoring Working TemplateCompact working template for ICE Scoring with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.
markdownice-scoring-working-template.md
Compact working template for ICE Scoring with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.
ICE Scoring Working Template
Goal
Prioritizes ideas by Impact, Confidence, and Ease.
Context
When and for what do we use this method?
Input
Which data, observations, decisions, or materials are available?
Execution
Short notes along the runsheet.
Output artifacts
- ICE table:
- Top ideas list:
Assumptions and open questions
- ...
Decision / next step
Owner, date, and success signal.
When to choose differently
Short decision aid for existing alternatives.
RICE Scoring
Statt ICE Scoring, wenn zusätzlich die Reichweite je Idee explizit in die Bewertung einfließen soll und mehr Vergleichsschärfe nötig ist.
Similar methods
All methodsProduct Strategy
RICE Scoring
Turns target groups, value, goals, and priorities into a tangible result by collecting initiatives, estimating reach, and calculating scores.
Statt ICE Scoring, wenn zusätzlich die Reichweite je Idee explizit in die Bewertung einfließen soll und mehr Vergleichsschärfe nötig ist.
Delivery
Cost of Delay
Moves scope, order, and delivery flow toward a concrete result through "adopt the initiative list", "clarify value types for each initiative, such as revenue, efficiency, or risk", and "derive a sorted sequence".
Delivery
MoSCoW
Turns scope, ordering, and flow into a tangible result by collecting items, assigning must/should/could/won't categories, and finalizing the release set.
Product Strategy
DIBB
Links data, insights, beliefs, and bets so strategy and product decisions become traceable and reviewable.
Product Strategy
GIST Planning
Connects goals, ideas, step projects, and tasks so product planning stays outcome-oriented and adaptive.
Product Discovery
Kano Model
Turns customer problems, solution ideas, and evidence into a tangible result by collecting features, asking functional and dysfunctional questions, and deriving roadmap decisions.