Master Eric, Fast Product Development (VCM-C)
Master Eric, Fast Product Development
Intro
I'm ERIC, your guide for navigating the product development lifecycle. My process is designed to ensure we build products that customers need and love, using a data-driven, systematic approach.
Process Overview
Phase 1: Customer & Solution Discovery (Steps 00-10) This phase is about validating your idea, understanding the customer, defining the problem, and ideating solutions.
Phase 2: Business & Product Strategy (Steps 11-18) Here, we define the business model, brand, and the detailed product requirements, from metrics to technical architecture.
Phase 3: Product Delivery (Steps 19-24) This final phase prepares everything for an autonomous AI coder to build, test, and deploy your product.
Phase 1: Customer & Solution Discovery
This initial phase focuses on ensuring there's a real market need for your idea. We'll move from a concept to a validated plan by understanding the customer, their problems, and then brainstorming effective solutions.
Step 00: Idea Gathering
Intro
Captures your initial product idea and context, or identifies the need to discover one.
Product Concept
Treats your initial idea as a hypothesis to be validated. It intelligently routes you based on whether it's a new idea, a feature for an existing product, or a continuation of previous work.
Actions
I'll ask for your idea or context. Based on your input, I'll determine the best starting point in the workflow to minimize effort.
Deliverables
A documented initial hypothesis and a clear, intelligent path to the next logical step.
Step 01: Find Your Product/Business Idea
Intro
Systematically scans the market for high-potential, underserved problems that can be solved with AI and agentic coding.
Product Concept
Focuses on "quick-win" opportunities (like AI wrappers or micro-SaaS) that can be rapidly developed and tested.
Actions
I research and present a curated list of business or feature opportunities. You select the most promising one to move forward.
Deliverables
A validated, high-potential product or feature idea, optimized for rapid development.
Step 02: Check if Idea is Worth It (POA)
Intro
Conducts a rapid, honest evaluation of your idea against the four key product risks: Value, Usability, Feasibility, and Business Viability.
Product Concept
De-risks the product idea before significant investment by assessing its core strengths and weaknesses.
Actions
I'll analyze your idea and generate a "Shark Tank" style report with a clear go/no-go/pivot recommendation.
Deliverables
A comprehensive Product Opportunity Assessment (POA) report that provides clear strategic direction.
Step 03: OKRs, Target Region & Profile Setup
Intro
Establishes the foundational strategic parameters for the project: Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), target market region, and your user profile.
Product Concept
Uses the OKR framework to set ambitious goals and measure progress with specific, time-bound results.
Actions
I'll guide you in defining your OKRs, selecting a target region for research, and setting up your user profile to tailor the process.
Deliverables
A clear set of strategic parameters (OKRs, target region, user profile) to guide the project.
Step 04: Target Niche & Dream Customer (HXC/ICP)
Intro
Identifies the most promising market niche and creates a detailed persona for your target user, focusing on the High-Expectation Customer (HXC).
Product Concept
Uses the HXC framework to focus design and development efforts on the most demanding and influential users. For B2B, it also defines the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP).
Actions
I'll research and score market niches, present the top options, and then create detailed personas and empathy maps for the selected niche.
Deliverables
A validated target niche, a detailed HXC persona, and a defined ICP (for B2B) to guide product development.
Step 05: Customer Journey (JTBD & Job Map)
Intro
Defines the customer's core "Job-to-be-Done" (JTBD) and maps out the steps they take to accomplish it.
Product Concept
Applies the JTBD and Outcome-Driven Innovation (ODI) frameworks to deeply understand customer needs and processes.
Actions
I'll define the functional, personal, and social dimensions of the JTBD and create a 6-8 step Job Map based on autonomous research.
Deliverables
A clear JTBD statement and a detailed Job Map that reveals opportunities for innovation.
Step 06: Customer Pain/Gain Analysis (DOS)
Intro
Translates customer needs from the Job Map into specific, measurable, and actionable Desired Outcome Statements (DOS).
Product Concept
Uses the ODI framework to focus on customer outcomes rather than product features, identifying the biggest opportunities for improvement.
Actions
I'll research customer pains and gains for each job map step, convert them into DOS, and score them to prioritize opportunities.
Deliverables
A prioritized list of Customer Desired Outcome Statements that serves as a roadmap for value creation.
Step 07: How Users Adopt, Engage & Share (Consumption Chain)
Intro
Maps the entire customer lifecycle, from acquisition to advocacy, and defines the desired outcomes for each stage.
Product Concept
Applies Product-Led Growth (PLG) and habit-forming design principles to create a self-reinforcing growth loop.
Actions
I'll analyze all seven consumption chain jobs and define the DOS for each, focusing on automation and creating "Aha!" moments.
Deliverables
A comprehensive catalog of DOS for the entire customer lifecycle, blueprinting a viral user experience.
Step 08: Product Roadmap (MVP ODI Roadmap)
Intro
Clusters the Desired Outcome Statements into strategic themes and assembles them into a progressive MVP roadmap.
Product Concept
Combines Outcome-Driven Innovation with agile roadmapping to create a strategic sequence of value delivery.
Actions
I'll conduct a competitive analysis, cluster the DOS into logical groups, and create a roadmap that balances customer and business value.
Deliverables
A selected, outcome-driven roadmap that provides a clear plan for what to build first.
Step 09: Solution Opportunities (OST)
Intro
Generates an Opportunity Solution Tree (OST) for each DOS in the roadmap, breaking down high-level opportunities into specific solution angles.
Product Concept
Uses the ODI framework to systematically explore multiple ways to deliver on a desired outcome before committing to a specific feature.
Actions
I'll create a multi-level OST for each DOS and sequence the "opportunity leaves" in a logical order for ideation.
Deliverables
A validated OST structure that organizes all potential solution paths for the roadmap.
Step 10: Ideate Features
Intro
Brainstorms and synthesizes solution concepts for each opportunity leaf in the OST.
Product Concept
Runs a virtual, AI-powered design sprint with a team of expert agents (Product, Design, Growth, AI) to generate multi-faceted solution ideas.
Actions
For each opportunity, I'll generate detailed feature concepts and job stories, which you will approve, refine, or reject.
Deliverables
A comprehensive Product Brief with detailed, validated solution concepts for the entire roadmap.
Phase 2: Business & Product Strategy
This phase translates the validated solutions into a viable business and a detailed product blueprint. We'll cover everything from the business model and branding to the technical specifications needed for development.
Step 11: Business Strategy (BMC)
Intro
Designs the business engine for your product, mapping out all nine blocks of the Business Model Canvas.
Product Concept
Applies the Business Model Canvas methodology to create a strategic, holistic, and viable business model.
Actions
I'll guide you through filling out the Business Model Canvas and distill a powerful Unique Value Proposition (UVP) from it.
Deliverables
A complete Business Model Canvas and a validated UVP, serving as the strategic blueprint for your business.
Step 12: Brand Style Guide & Launch Plan
Intro
Creates a compelling brand identity and a comprehensive launch campaign to introduce your product to the market.
Product Concept
Combines brand strategy with growth marketing to create an automated and effective customer acquisition engine.
Actions
I'll generate a complete brand identity system (logo, colors, tone) and design a multi-channel launch campaign with marketing automation.
Deliverables
A complete brand identity system and a ready-to-execute product launch campaign.
Step 13: Product Requirements Prompt (PRP) & Document (PRD)
Intro
Creates the PRD for business stakeholders and the PRP for the agentic coder.
Product Concept
The PRD communicates the "what" and "why" strategically, while the PRP provides the detailed "how" tactically for autonomous implementation.
Actions
I'll synthesize all project data into a comprehensive PRD and a detailed, actionable PRP.
Deliverables
A complete PRD and PRP, ensuring alignment between business goals and technical implementation.
Step 14: Track What Matters (Value Tree & Metrics)
Intro
Creates a metrics framework that connects every feature directly to your North Star Metric.
Product Concept
Implements a hierarchical metrics model using the HEART framework and Analytic Hierarchy Process to weigh the impact of each feature.
Actions
I'll complete the HEART metrics for each solution, calculate the "global weight" of each feature, and generate a technical implementation plan.
Deliverables
A complete Value Tree and a detailed technical plan for implementing a data-driven metrics framework.
Step 15: Organize Your Product Experience (Information Architecture)
Intro
Designs the structural blueprint for your product, organizing content and functionality for usability.
Product Concept
Applies persona-driven, task-oriented design to create a scalable and adaptable Information Architecture (IA).
Actions
I'll design a complete IA foundation, including navigation, content hierarchies, and search systems.
Deliverables
A complete IA foundation and solution-specific integration specs, forming the structural blueprint of your app.
Step 16: User Experience Flows (UX)
Intro
Designs the step-by-step user interaction pathways for every feature in the roadmap.
Product Concept
Applies goal-directed, mobile-first design principles to create efficient and delightful user experiences.
Actions
For each solution, I'll design a complete UX flow with wireframes and technical specifications.
Deliverables
A complete set of UX flows that serve as the detailed interaction design blueprint for your product.
Step 17: User-Interface Design (Design System & Component Library)
Intro
Creates a single source of truth for your product's visual and interaction design.
Product Concept
Uses the Atomic Design methodology to build a hierarchical, consistent, and flexible design system.
Actions
I'll create a design system foundation with atomic components, design tokens, and accessibility guidelines.
Deliverables
A complete Design System and component library, serving as the front-end blueprint for your UI.
Step 18: Platform Rules & Memory Bank Context Files
Intro
Creates the platform rules and memory bank context files required for professional agentic coder platforms.
Product Concept
Provides the "brain" for the agentic coder, giving it all the necessary context and rules to build the product autonomously and intelligently.
Actions
I'll generate a platform-specific rules file and a complete set of memory bank files from our project deliverables.
Deliverables
A complete context package for your agentic coder.
Phase 3: Product Delivery
This final phase prepares all specifications and instructions for an autonomous AI coder to build the product. It's about translating the design into executable tasks.
Step 19: Technical Architecture Design
Intro
Designs the high-level technical blueprint for the entire system.
Product Concept
Designs a modern, scalable, and secure architecture optimized for your chosen agentic coder platform.
Actions
I'll help you select a platform and then design a complete system architecture, including C4 diagrams and Architecture Decision Records (ADRs).
Deliverables
A complete Technical Architecture Document (TAD), ready for implementation.
Step 20: Generate Tasks for Professional AI Coders (EPIC & Task Breakdown)
Intro
Breaks down the architectural vision into manageable EPICs and tasks for implementation.
Product Concept
Applies agile project management principles to create a clear, sequential, and iterative development plan.
Actions
I'll organize solutions into EPICs, break them down into tasks, and map their dependencies.
Deliverables
A complete EPIC analysis and a sequential task execution plan to guide the agentic coder.
Step 21: Setup Instructions for Professional AI Coders
Intro
Generates detailed prompts for setting up the development environment and cloud infrastructure.
Product Concept
Creates "Infrastructure as Code" prompts for an autonomous, consistent, and error-free setup process.
Actions
For each setup task, I'll generate a detailed, copy-paste-ready prompt optimized for your platform.
Deliverables
A complete set of setup prompts that act as an automated setup script.
Step 22: Build Instructions for Professional AI Coders
Intro
Generates detailed, feature-specific prompts for the agentic coder to build the product.
Product Concept
Creates "Feature as Code" prompts for a modular, test-driven, and efficient development process.
Actions
For each development task, I'll generate a detailed, copy-paste-ready build prompt with Gherkin scenarios and acceptance criteria.
Deliverables
A complete set of build prompts that act as an automated build script for your product.
Step 23: AI Coder Operations Manual & Next Steps
Intro
Provides a simple manual for managing the agentic coder and outlines the next steps for your business.
Product Concept
This is the final hand-off, providing you with the "keys to the factory" and a path to market leadership.
Actions
I'll generate a concise operations manual and a clear guide to your next steps, from GTM to scaling.
Deliverables
A complete Agentic Coder Operations Manual and an actionable plan for your business's future.
Step 24: Agentic Coder Operations Manual & Next Steps (Legacy)
Intro
An alternative final step that provides an operations manual and outlines next steps.
Product Concept
A concluding hand-off to empower you to manage the build process and plan for future growth.
Actions
I'll generate an operations manual and a summary of your achievements and future opportunities.
Deliverables
A guide to managing the agentic coder and a strategic plan for what comes next.