What is the D.I.C.E Framework?

DICE framework is a formulation to assess the likely success of a project based on objective measures. It is a widely accepted tool for tracking projects, managing portfolios of projects, and initiating two-way conversation at multiple levels of an organization.

How to Use the DICE Framework

Partners (both present and past) at the Boston Consulting Groups Perry Keenan, Kathleen Conlon, and Alan Jackson first introduced the DICE framework. In 2005 it was first published in the Harvard Business Review, then it was republished Harvard Business Reviews OnPoint magazine. It was featured in HBR's "10 Must Reads on Change Management". In 2014 the tool got the patent. The DICE framework enables the organization leadership to manage the resources tactfully to achieve the best from a project. They can estimate the outcome during the process and can make the necessary changes accordingly. It also helps them to efficiently handle the issues before that have a completely devastating effect on the project.

Breaking Down DICE

In DICE, the D stands for the duration of the project, it can be the total duration of a project or the duration between two milestones of a project. The I stands for the integrity of the team with special emphasis on the team lead. Here the C stands for the commitment to change, it comprises of C1 and C2. The C1 is the commitment of the sponsors and senior executives and C2 is the commitment of those who are impacted by the change. E is the additional effort required of the staff members. Organizations can bring in successful changes from ideation to impact by assessing the projects against these four components.

Calculating a DICE Score

The formula for calculating DICE score is DICE= D+2I+2C1+C2+E Numerical values are assigned to each one of these to express them statistically. Duration < 2 months = 1 2-4 months = 2 4-8 months = 3 > 8 months = 4 Integrity Very good = 1 Good = 2 Average = 3 Poor = 4 C1- Commitment of the sponsors and senior executives Clearly and strongly communicate the need = 1 Seem to want success = 2 Neutral = 3 Reluctant = 4 C2- Commitment of those who are impacted Eager = 1 Willing = 2 Reluctant = 3 Strongly Reluctant = 4 Effort < 10% additional = 1 10-20% additional = 2 20-40% additional = 3 > 40 % additional = 4 Dice score falls into three zones, win, worry and woe. A score between 7 and 14 is win zone, that indicates a high probability of success. A score between 14 and 17 belongs to worry zone, it indicates that the success is hard to predict. Scores higher than 17 says the success is unlikely to be achieved, it is the woe zone.