Created by:
James Shaw
The PIE Model is your go-to tool for making calm, calculated decisions when everything feels like a priority.
It's a strategic prioritization framework that helps product and growth teams decide what to work on next by evaluating initiatives based on Potential, Importance, and Ease. It’s simple, scalable, and built for clarity.
What is the PIE Model Framework?
The PIE Model is a prioritization method that scores product ideas, features, or projects across three key criteria:
- Potential – How big is the opportunity? Will this idea drive measurable growth or impact (e.g., market share or user adoption)?
- Importance – How relevant is this idea to your business goals or customer needs?
- Ease – How difficult is it to implement? Do you have the resources to make it happen quickly?
Each initiative is given a score for each factor (typically on a scale of 1–10), and the total PIE score helps you determine which ideas offer the best return on effort. The result? A prioritized list of opportunities that are aligned with your goals and capacity.
How to use the framework
- List your product ideas or initiatives – Start by identifying the options on the table.
- Score each idea across the three PIE factors:
- Potential: Expected impact on growth or success.
- Importance: Alignment with strategic priorities or customer needs.
- Ease: Time, cost, and complexity to implement.
- Calculate the PIE Score – Total or average the scores for a final ranking.
- Prioritize and execute – Use the final rankings to decide where to allocate time, energy, and budget.
This framework allows your team to prioritize based on clarity, not guesswork—perfect for teams working lean or moving fast.
Download your PIE model template
Product-led alliance insider
Thank you for subscribing
Level up your product-led alliance career & network with product-led alliance experts.
An email has been successfully sent to confirm your subscription.
Follow us on LinkedIn
