Define the unique value your product offers to customers.

Quantify market size using TAM/SAM/SOM templates.

Identify key customer segments and define target user personas.

Draft a compelling announcement focusing on product benefits and market positioning.

Clearly articulate the product’s purpose, features, and functionality.

Identify primary workloads and use cases for different customer segments.

Conduct a competitive analysis (feature, pricing, positioning).

Conduct a SWOT analysis and create a plan to differentiate in the market.

Set measurable goals in the "as measured by" (AMB) format.

Define pricing models (e.g., subscription, licensing, or one-time purchase) and associated revenue streams.

Identify partners who can enhance product reach and value.

Outline GTM strategy, onboarding experience, and customer success model.

Define the post-launch support structure, including SLAs and escalation paths.

Map out costs for development, launch, and maintenance.

Identify the optimal time for launch to align with market trends.

Define the product scope, including what it will and won’t do.

Identify dependencies and boundaries to ensure clear alignment.

Define detailed functional and non-functional requirements.

Ensure alignment between requirements and business goals.

Identify the expected workloads, performance benchmarks, and stress scenarios.

Define resource needs for infrastructure, testing, and scaling.

Map dependencies between internal and external teams (e.g., APIs, integrations for SW or hardware connections for HW).

Schedule regular interlock reviews to ensure alignment across teams.

Define the product’s architecture (e.g., tech stack, physical designs, schematics, or integration points).

Document design patterns, frameworks, schematics, and API specifications.

Create comprehensive developer and user-facing documentation.

Include technical documentation (e.g., API references, installation guides, or HW schematics).

Define the release timeline and ensure alignment across all teams.Create a detailed roadmap with clear milestones and dependencies.

Define how the product will be delivered (e.g., installers, containers for SW or physical packaging for HW).

Ensure distribution channels (e.g., app stores, shipping partners, or retailers) are ready and approved.

Verify security, legal, licensing, and compliance (e.g., GDPR, AI licensing, safety standards, certifications).

Validate open source licenses and ensure all BOM components meet approval.

Confirm approvals for encryption, safety certifications, tax, and performance claims.

Identify and document open risks, technical unknowns, and unresolved issues.

Conduct a final risk assessment, prioritizing high-probability issues for immediate action.

Define governance structure (e.g., decision-makers, contributors, and approvers).

Assign accountability for proposing, deciding, and approving changes or key decisions.

Develop a comprehensive validation plan, including functional, performance, and stress testing.

Conduct User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with key stakeholders and early adopters.

Map the customer journey to identify and eliminate friction points.

Conduct usability testing and A/B testing for interface or usability optimization.

Establish a centralized system for logging, prioritizing, and tracking bugs.

Define severity levels (Critical, Major, Minor) and response SLAs for each.

Implement code reviews and peer reviews to ensure maintainable, high-quality SW/HW.

Utilize automated testing frameworks for unit, integration, regression tests (for SW) or stress and performance tests (for HW).