/prioritization-advisor

name: prioritization-advisor
argument-hint: "[decision context]"
description: Choose a prioritization framework based on stage, team context, and stakeholder needs. Use when deciding between RICE, ICE, value/effort, or another scoring approach.
intent: >-
  Guide product managers in choosing the right prioritization framework by asking adaptive questions about product stage, team context, decision-making needs, and stakeholder dynamics. Use this to avoid "framework whiplash" (switching frameworks constantly) or applying the wrong framework (e.g., using RICE for strategic bets or ICE for data-driven decisions). Outputs a recommended framework with implementation guidance tailored to your context.
type: interactive
best_for:
  - "Choosing the right prioritization framework for a team or stage"
  - "Deciding between RICE, ICE, value/effort, and similar models"
  - "Reducing debate about how to prioritize competing work"
scenarios:
  - "Which prioritization framework should my startup use right now?"
  - "Help me choose between RICE and value/effort for roadmap planning"
  - "We keep arguing about prioritization. Recommend a framework."
theme: strategy-positioning
estimated_time: "15-25 min"

Purpose

Guide product managers in choosing the right prioritization framework by asking adaptive questions about product stage, team context, decision-making needs, and stakeholder dynamics. Use this to avoid "framework whiplash" (switching frameworks constantly) or applying the wrong framework (e.g., using RICE for strategic bets or ICE for data-driven decisions). Outputs a recommended framework with implementation guidance tailored to your context.

This is not a scoring calculator—it's a decision guide that matches prioritization frameworks to your specific situation.

Input

**Works best with:** What you're trying to prioritize and why now (sprint planning, roadmap, stakeholder fight). **Also useful:** Product stage, team size, data availability, and frameworks you've tried that failed.

Anything supplied with the invocation itself — text after the skill name, a pasted context dump, or an appended `ARGUMENTS:` line — counts as answers already given. Use it and skip whatever it covers; don't re-ask.

**Arriving empty-handed? That works too.** The advisor opens by asking about your product stage and the decision you need the framework to make.

**Example invocation:** `Help me pick a framework: seed-stage B2B startup, 40-item backlog, zero usage data, loud enterprise prospect.`

Key Concepts

The Prioritization Framework Landscape

Common frameworks and when to use them:

**Scoring frameworks:**

• **RICE** (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) — Data-driven, requires metrics
• **ICE** (Impact, Confidence, Ease) — Lightweight, gut-check scoring
• **Value vs. Effort** (2x2 matrix) — Quick wins vs. strategic bets
• **Weighted Scoring** — Custom criteria with stakeholder input

**Strategic frameworks:**

• **Kano Model** — Classify features by customer delight (basic, performance, delight)
• **Opportunity Scoring** — Rate importance vs. satisfaction gap
• **Buy-a-Feature** — Customer budget allocation exercise
• **Moscow** (Must, Should, Could, Won't) — Forcing function for hard choices

**Contextual frameworks:**

• **Cost of Delay** — Urgency-based (time-sensitive features)
• **Impact Mapping** — Goal-driven (tie features to outcomes)
• **Story Mapping** — User journey-based (narrative flow)

Why This Works

• **Context-aware:** Matches framework to product stage, team maturity, data availability
• **Anti-dogmatic:** No single "best" framework—it depends on your situation
• **Actionable:** Provides implementation steps, not just framework names

Anti-Patterns (What This Is NOT)

• **Not a universal ranking:** Frameworks aren't "better" or "worse"—they fit different contexts
• **Not a replacement for strategy:** Frameworks execute strategy; they don't create it
• **Not set-it-and-forget-it:** Reassess frameworks as your product matures

When to Use This

• Choosing a prioritization framework for the first time
• Switching frameworks (current one isn't working)
• Aligning stakeholders on prioritization process
• Onboarding new PMs to team practices

When NOT to Use This

• When you already have a working framework (don't fix what isn't broken)
• For one-off decisions (frameworks are for recurring prioritization)
• As a substitute for strategic vision (frameworks can't tell you what to build)

---

Facilitation Source of Truth

Use [`workshop-facilitation`](../workshop-facilitation/SKILL.md) as the default interaction protocol for this skill.

**Default entry mode:** Guided · set in `pm-skills.config.yaml` (library-wide default or a per-skill override); the user's own choice in the session always wins. On the first turn, offer all three modes, then open in the default without waiting for a pick: Guided asks the first question, Context dump invites the paste, Best guess asks for a one-sentence minimum and drafts with every assumption labeled.

It defines:

• session heads-up + entry mode (Guided, Context dump, Best guess)
• one-question turns with plain-language prompts
• progress labels (for example, Context Qx/8 and Scoring Qx/5)
• interruption handling and pause/resume behavior
• numbered recommendations at decision points
• quick-select numbered response options for regular questions (include `Other (specify)` when useful)

This file defines the domain-specific assessment content. If there is a conflict, follow this file's domain logic.

Application

This interactive skill asks **up to 4 adaptive questions**, offering **3-4 enumerated options** at each step.

---

Question 1: Product Stage

**Agent asks:** "What stage is your product in?"

**Offer 4 enumerated options:**

1. **Pre-product/market fit** — "Searching for PMF; experimenting rapidly; unclear what customers want" (High uncertainty, need speed) 2. **Early PMF, scaling** — "Found initial PMF; growing fast;