# Product Manager (PM) Requirements Checklist This checklist serves as a comprehensive framework to ensure the Product Requirements Document (PRD) and Epic definitions are complete, well-structured, and appropriately scoped for MVP development. The PM should systematically work through each item during the product definition process. ## 1. PROBLEM DEFINITION & CONTEXT ### 1.1 Problem Statement - [ ] Clear articulation of the problem being solved - [ ] Identification of who experiences the problem - [ ] Explanation of why solving this problem matters - [ ] Quantification of problem impact (if possible) - [ ] Differentiation from existing solutions ### 1.2 Business Goals & Success Metrics - [ ] Specific, measurable business objectives defined - [ ] Clear success metrics and KPIs established - [ ] Metrics are tied to user and business value - [ ] Baseline measurements identified (if applicable) - [ ] Timeframe for achieving goals specified ### 1.3 User Research & Insights - [ ] Target user personas clearly defined - [ ] User needs and pain points documented - [ ] User research findings summarized (if available) - [ ] Competitive analysis included - [ ] Market context provided ## 2. MVP SCOPE DEFINITION ### 2.1 Core Functionality - [ ] Essential features clearly distinguished from nice-to-haves - [ ] Features directly address defined problem statement - [ ] Each Epic ties back to specific user needs - [ ] Features and Stories are described from user perspective - [ ] Minimum requirements for success defined ### 2.2 Scope Boundaries - [ ] Clear articulation of what is OUT of scope - [ ] Future enhancements section included - [ ] Rationale for scope decisions documented - [ ] MVP minimizes functionality while maximizing learning - [ ] Scope has been reviewed and refined multiple times ### 2.3 MVP Validation Approach - [ ] Method for testing MVP success defined - [ ] Initial user feedback mechanisms planned - [ ] Criteria for moving beyond MVP specified - [ ] Learning goals for MVP articulated - [ ] Timeline expectations set ## 3. USER EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS ### 3.1 User Journeys & Flows - [ ] Primary user flows documented - [ ] Entry and exit points for each flow identified - [ ] Decision points and branches mapped - [ ] Critical path highlighted - [ ] Edge cases considered ### 3.2 Usability Requirements - [ ] Accessibility considerations documented - [ ] Platform/device compatibility specified - [ ] Performance expectations from user perspective defined - [ ] Error handling and recovery approaches outlined - [ ] User feedback mechanisms identified ### 3.3 UI Requirements - [ ] Information architecture outlined - [ ] Critical UI components identified - [ ] Visual design guidelines referenced (if applicable) - [ ] Content requirements specified - [ ] High-level navigation structure defined ## 4. FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS ### 4.1 Feature Completeness - [ ] All required features for MVP documented - [ ] Features have clear, user-focused descriptions - [ ] Feature priority/criticality indicated - [ ] Requirements are testable and verifiable - [ ] Dependencies between features identified ### 4.2 Requirements Quality - [ ] Requirements are specific and unambiguous - [ ] Requirements focus on WHAT not HOW - [ ] Requirements use consistent terminology - [ ] Complex requirements broken into simpler parts - [ ] Technical jargon minimized or explained ### 4.3 User Stories & Acceptance Criteria - [ ] Stories follow consistent format - [ ] Acceptance criteria are testable - [ ] Stories are sized appropriately (not too large) - [ ] Stories are independent where possible - [ ] Stories include necessary context - [ ] Local testability requirements (e.g., via CLI) defined in ACs for relevant backend/data stories ## 5. NON-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS ### 5.1 Performance Requirements - [ ] Response time expectations defined - [ ] Throughput/capacity requirements specified - [ ] Scalability needs documented - [ ] Resource utilization constraints identified - [ ] Load handling expectations set ### 5.2 Security & Compliance - [ ] Data protection requirements specified - [ ] Authentication/authorization needs defined - [ ] Compliance requirements documented - [ ] Security testing requirements outlined - [ ] Privacy considerations addressed ### 5.3 Reliability & Resilience - [ ] Availability requirements defined - [ ] Backup and recovery needs documented - [ ] Fault tolerance expectations set - [ ] Error handling requirements specified - [ ] Maintenance and support considerations included ### 5.4 Technical Constraints - [ ] Platform/technology constraints documented - [ ] Integration requirements outlined - [ ] Third-party service dependencies identified - [ ] Infrastructure requirements specified - [ ] Development environment needs identified ## 6. EPIC & STORY STRUCTURE ### 6.1 Epic Definition - [ ] Epics represent cohesive units of functionality - [ ] Epics focus on user/business value delivery - [ ] Epic goals clearly articulated - [ ] Epics are sized appropriately for incremental delivery - [ ] Epic sequence and dependencies identified ### 6.2 Story Breakdown - [ ] Stories are broken down to appropriate size - [ ] Stories have clear, independent value - [ ] Stories include appropriate acceptance criteria - [ ] Story dependencies and sequence documented - [ ] Stories aligned with epic goals ### 6.3 First Epic Completeness - [ ] First epic includes all necessary setup steps - [ ] Project scaffolding and initialization addressed - [ ] Core infrastructure setup included - [ ] Development environment setup addressed - [ ] Local testability established early ## 7. TECHNICAL GUIDANCE ### 7.1 Architecture Guidance - [ ] Initial architecture direction provided - [ ] Technical constraints clearly communicated - [ ] Integration points identified - [ ] Performance considerations highlighted - [ ] Security requirements articulated - [ ] Known areas of high complexity or technical risk flagged for architectural deep-dive ### 7.2 Technical Decision Framework - [ ] Decision criteria for technical choices provided - [ ] Trade-offs articulated for key decisions - [ ] Rationale for selecting primary approach over considered alternatives documented (for key design/feature choices) - [ ] Non-negotiable technical requirements highlighted - [ ] Areas requiring technical investigation identified - [ ] Guidance on technical debt approach provided ### 7.3 Implementation Considerations - [ ] Development approach guidance provided - [ ] Testing requirements articulated - [ ] Deployment expectations set - [ ] Monitoring needs identified - [ ] Documentation requirements specified ## 8. CROSS-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS ### 8.1 Data Requirements - [ ] Data entities and relationships identified - [ ] Data storage requirements specified - [ ] Data quality requirements defined - [ ] Data retention policies identified - [ ] Data migration needs addressed (if applicable) - [ ] Schema changes planned iteratively, tied to stories requiring them ### 8.2 Integration Requirements - [ ] External system integrations identified - [ ] API requirements documented - [ ] Authentication for integrations specified - [ ] Data exchange formats defined - [ ] Integration testing requirements outlined ### 8.3 Operational Requirements - [ ] Deployment frequency expectations set - [ ] Environment requirements defined - [ ] Monitoring and alerting needs identified - [ ] Support requirements documented - [ ] Performance monitoring approach specified ## 9. CLARITY & COMMUNICATION ### 9.1 Documentation Quality - [ ] Documents use clear, consistent language - [ ] Documents are well-structured and organized - [ ] Technical terms are defined where necessary - [ ] Diagrams/visuals included where helpful - [ ] Documentation is versioned appropriately ### 9.2 Stakeholder Alignment - [ ] Key stakeholders identified - [ ] Stakeholder input incorporated - [ ] Potential areas of disagreement addressed - [ ] Communication plan for updates established - [ ] Approval process defined ## PRD & EPIC VALIDATION SUMMARY ### Category Statuses | Category | Status | Critical Issues | |----------|--------|----------------| | 1. Problem Definition & Context | PASS/FAIL/PARTIAL | | | 2. MVP Scope Definition | PASS/FAIL/PARTIAL | | | 3. User Experience Requirements | PASS/FAIL/PARTIAL | | | 4. Functional Requirements | PASS/FAIL/PARTIAL | | | 5. Non-Functional Requirements | PASS/FAIL/PARTIAL | | | 6. Epic & Story Structure | PASS/FAIL/PARTIAL | | | 7. Technical Guidance | PASS/FAIL/PARTIAL | | | 8. Cross-Functional Requirements | PASS/FAIL/PARTIAL | | | 9. Clarity & Communication | PASS/FAIL/PARTIAL | | ### Critical Deficiencies - List all critical issues that must be addressed before handoff to Architect ### Recommendations - Provide specific recommendations for addressing each deficiency ### Final Decision - **READY FOR ARCHITECT**: The PRD and epics are comprehensive, properly structured, and ready for architectural design. - **NEEDS REFINEMENT**: The requirements documentation requires additional work to address the identified deficiencies.