scoping-cutting
Help teams scope projects and cut features using frameworks from 15 product leaders.
- Teaches appetite-based planning: set fixed time budgets and vary scope instead of extending deadlines
- Covers eight core principles including MVP as validation tool, aggressive feature cutting, and the "build the scooter, not the axle" approach to end-to-end value
- Provides Wizard of Oz testing guidance to validate hypotheses manually before engineering investment
- Includes diagnostic questions and common mistakes to flag during scoping conversations
Scoping & Cutting
Help the user scope projects and cut features effectively using frameworks from 15 product leaders.
How to Help
When the user asks for help with scoping:
- Understand the hypothesis - Ask what they're trying to learn or validate
- Identify the appetite - Determine how much time/resources they're willing to invest
- Find the essential core - Help them identify what must be present for the first version
- Design for learning - Ensure the scope enables fast feedback, not just fast shipping
Core Principles
Use appetite, not estimates
Ryan Singer: "We're going to go the other way around and we're going to say, what is the maximum amount of time we're willing to go before we actually finish something?" Set a fixed time budget (appetite) and design a version of the solution that fits within it. Vary scope, not deadlines.
MVP is a validation tool
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