feature-investment-advisor

Purpose

Guide product managers through evaluating whether to build a feature based on financial impact analysis. Use this to make data-driven prioritization decisions by assessing revenue connection (direct or indirect), cost structure (dev + COGS + OpEx), ROI calculation, and strategic value—then deliver actionable build/don't build recommendations with supporting math.

This is not a generic prioritization framework—it's a financial lens for feature decisions that complements other prioritization methods (RICE, value vs. effort, user research). Use when financial impact is a key decision factor.

Key Concepts

The Feature Investment Framework

A systematic approach to evaluate features financially:

1. Revenue Connection — How does this feature impact revenue?

   • Direct monetization (new tier, add-on, usage charges)
   • Indirect monetization (retention, conversion, expansion enablement)

2. Cost Structure — What does it cost to build and run?

   • Development cost (one-time investment)