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Product Design and Scoping: From Idea to Shippable MVP

The method for cutting an idea down to a thin, payable, secure MVP you can ship in weeks: the one-job sentence, four cut rules, the shippable minimum that keeps you out of trouble, and a one-page MVP spec template.

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Most MVPs are late because they are scoped like products instead of experiments. This is the method we use to cut an idea down to something a customer can pay for in two to six weeks: the one-job sentence, four rules that cut features without arguments, the security minimum that stops "ship fast" turning into a public apology, and a one-page MVP spec you can fill in tonight.

What this guide covers

01The principles behind a scope that ships
02From idea to shipped, in ten steps
03Step 1. Write the job in one sentence
04Step 2. Define the first value moment
05Step 3. List every feature, then cut with four rules
06Step 4. Draw the thin slice
07Step 5. Choose the stack you already know
08Step 6. Set the time-box and milestones
09Step 7. Meet the shippable minimum
10Step 8. Measure the value moment
11Step 9. Put it in front of five people
12Step 10. Decide on the date
13What Marc Lou's products show about scope
14Template: the one-page MVP spec
15Mistakes that make MVPs late or unsafe
16Checklist
17Do this week
18Notes

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