Comparison · C64
Compare marketing prioritisation methods
Should you use RICE, ICE, WSJF or a weighted matrix to make portfolio trade-offs?
Direct answer
The method depends on data quality, capacity constraints, dependencies and the cost of a wrong decision.
01Choose the appropriate prioritisation method and document what it does not measure.
02The rule, the evidence and the next review date stay visible.
How to use this
Move from the question to the deliverable.
Should you use RICE, ICE, WSJF or a weighted matrix to make portfolio trade-offs?
Choose the appropriate prioritisation method and document what it does not measure.
Critical four-method comparator
Critical comparison · SQ-64
Choose between RICE, ICE, WSJF and a weighted matrix
Scoring methods do not measure the same thing. Their result depends above all on what they ignore.
Critical comparison applied to a marketing portfolio with dependencies, scarce skills and uneven levels of evidence.
- 01Diagnose
Assess data quality, dependencies, capacity and the cost of error.
- 02Compare
Apply the four methods to the same initiatives and conventions.
- 03Test
Change assumptions and weights to measure the stability of the ranking.
- 04Combine
Use the score as one input to a constrained trade-off.
Four methods, six distinct limitations
The verdict concerns the context of use, not universal superiority.
| Method | Required data | Capacity | Dependencies | Sensitivity | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICE | Low | Ignored | Ignored | Very high | Fast first pass |
| RICE | Reach + confidence | Aggregated effort | Ignored | High | Comparable backlog |
| WSJF | Cost of delay | Duration | Partial | Medium | Time sequencing |
| Weighted matrix | Defined criteria | Explicit | Explicit | Testable | Portfolio trade-off |
01ICE is set aside for the final decision: it favours optimistic estimates and ignores bottlenecks.
02WSJF is useful for sequencing two initiatives that have already been selected, when the cost of delay can be estimated.
03The weighted matrix is chosen for the portfolio trade-off, then supplemented with a capacity constraint and a sensitivity test.
Methodological comparison. The methods remain vulnerable to weak data and to gamed scores.
Coherence controls
Minimum conditions before validation.
The status, the evidence and the owner must be available for review.
The status, the evidence and the owner must be available for review.
The status, the evidence and the owner must be available for review.
The status, the evidence and the owner must be available for review.
Usable deliverable
Critical four-method comparator
Explore the decision further with an interactive control, or start from a structured template to produce your deliverable.