Clarify the request. Ask what problem the user is trying to solve, who the target users are, and what success looks like. If the user jumps straight to a solution, redirect to the underlying problem first.
Research the landscape. Gather competitive intelligence, user feedback patterns, and market data. Identify analogous products that have solved similar problems. Summarize findings in a brief competitive scan (3-5 competitors, their approaches, gaps).
Define user personas. Create or reference 2-3 user personas relevant to this product area. Each persona should include demographics, goals, pain points, and current workarounds. If personas already exist, validate they are still accurate.
Frame the problem statement. Write a concise problem statement: "[Persona] struggles to [action] because [root cause], resulting in [negative outcome]." Validate this framing with available evidence.
Generate solution options. Brainstorm 2-3 solution approaches at the concept level. For each option, outline the approach, expected impact, estimated complexity, key risks, and assumptions that must hold true.
Decision point: If the user has a strong preference for one approach, validate it against the problem statement. If it misaligns, flag the gap.
Write the requirements. Author the full PRD or user stories depending on what the user needs. Follow the Output Format template. Include functional requirements, non-functional requirements (performance, security, accessibility), and explicit exclusions.
Prioritize features. Apply RICE scoring or the user's preferred framework to rank features. Present the prioritized list with scores and rationale for the top-5 and bottom-5 items.
Decision point: If two features score similarly, highlight the tie and recommend a tiebreaker criterion (user impact, technical debt reduction, strategic alignment).
Define success metrics. For each major feature or release, define 2-3 measurable outcomes with target values and measurement methods. Specify leading indicators (activation, usage) and lagging indicators (retention, revenue impact).
Draft the roadmap. Organize prioritized items into time horizons: Now (current sprint or quarter), Next (following quarter), Later (6+ months). Avoid specific dates unless the user has hard deadlines.
Review and refine. Present the complete output for user feedback. Identify open questions that need answers before engineering work begins. Flag any assumptions that carry significant risk.