📋 Every PM framework and metric on one scannable page

PM Cheat Sheet
(2026 Edition)

12 frameworks, 10 metrics, 6 formulas, and the writing rules every PM should have memorised. Use as reference — not script.

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12 Frameworks

RICE

Prioritisation

Reach × Impact × Confidence ÷ Effort

AARRR (Pirate Metrics)

Funnel mapping

Acquisition → Activation → Retention → Referral → Revenue

HEART

UX metric framework

Happiness, Engagement, Adoption, Retention, Task success

MoSCoW

Scope prioritisation

Must / Should / Could / Won't

Kano

Feature categorisation

Basic / Performance / Delighter needs

JTBD

User need framing

When [situation], I want to [motivation], so I can [outcome]

North Star

Team alignment

One metric that captures value delivered AND leads business health

CIRCLES

Product design interviews

Comprehend → Identify → Report → Cut → List → Evaluate → Summarise

STAR

Behavioural interview answers

Situation → Task → Action → Result

OKRs

Goal setting

Objective (qualitative) + 3–5 Key Results (measurable)

SCQA

Executive writing structure

Situation → Complication → Question → Answer

SBI

Giving feedback

Situation → Behaviour → Impact

10 Core Metrics

DAU / MAU

Daily / Monthly Active Users. Ratio DAU:MAU shows stickiness (>20% is great for consumer apps).

LTV : CAC

Lifetime value to customer acquisition cost. 3:1 is healthy; below 1:1 is burning money.

D1 / D7 / D30 Retention

% of users active N days after signup. Core stickiness metric.

NRR

Net Revenue Retention. >100% means you grow from existing customers alone.

K-factor

Viral coefficient. >1 means self-sustaining growth.

Conversion rate

% of users who complete a specific action (signup, purchase, activation).

Churn rate

% of customers lost per period. Often inverse of retention.

NPS

Net Promoter Score. %promoters - %detractors. 50+ is great; 0+ is healthy.

Activation rate

% of new signups who hit the 'aha' action within the activation window.

Time-to-value (TTV)

Time from signup to first aha moment. Shorter TTV = higher retention.

6 Formulas to Memorise

TAM = # potential users × ARPU × 100% capture

Total Addressable Market

Viral coefficient = invites per user × conversion rate of invites

Virality

LTV = ARPU × gross margin × (1 / churn rate)

Customer lifetime value

CAC payback = CAC / (ARPU × gross margin)

Payback period in months

Compound growth = (ending/starting)^(1/periods) - 1

Growth rate calc

Expected value = Σ (outcome × probability)

Decision under uncertainty

6 PM Writing Rules

1.

Lead with the answer, not setup

2.

Use numbers, not adjectives

3.

Cut hedging (just, maybe, perhaps, potentially)

4.

Name owners and deadlines explicitly

5.

Structure for scanning (headings, bullets)

6.

Aim for shorter — cut 20% of every draft

FAQ

How should I use a PM cheat sheet?

As a memory aid, not a script. Reference it when preparing for interviews, writing strategy docs, or structuring analysis. But don't name frameworks in interviews or work conversations — use them as invisible scaffolding. Saying 'I'll apply CIRCLES' fails; using CIRCLES to structure your thinking without naming it wins.

Are these the only frameworks PMs should know?

No — these are the most commonly useful. There are many more (Good Strategy/Bad Strategy, Porter's Five Forces, Opportunity Solution Tree, Working Backwards). The ones on this cheat sheet are the ones you'll use most often. Depth in a handful beats breadth across many.

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