Product Requirements Document (PRD)
Project: [PROJECT NAME]
Client: [CLIENT NAME]
Version: [VERSION]
Date: [YYYY-MM-DD]
Author: [AUTHOR]
Status: Draft | In Review | Approved | Building
TL;DR
[3 sentences maximum. What are we building, why, and what is the expected outcome?]
1. Summary
Provide a clear, simple explanation of what this PRD is about and why it exists.
Example: “This PRD defines the requirements for an AI-powered workflow that supports [client goal], based on recent discovery sessions and provided materials.”
2. Background and Context
Summarize the context that led to this project:
- What problem is the client facing?
- What workflows or tasks are currently manual or inefficient?
- What did we learn from transcripts, meetings, or SME discussions?
Keep this factual and concise.
3. Problem and Value
The Problem
[What pain exists today? Be specific with time, money, and effort costs.]
Cost of Inaction
[What happens if we do not solve this? Why now?]
Value Delivered
| Stakeholder | Value |
|---|---|
| [Role 1] | [Specific benefit] |
| [Role 2] | [Specific benefit] |
4. Goals and Non-Goals
4.1 Goals
List what the solution should accomplish.
Examples:
- Automate extraction of key data fields
- Improve internal review accuracy
- Reduce processing time
- Provide a demo or workflow to illustrate value
4.2 Non-Goals
List what the solution will not address.
Examples:
- Full production deployment
- Complex custom integrations
- Long-term maintenance
- UI/UX beyond simple interactions
5. Staged Milestones
POC (Proof of Concept)
Goal: Validate core technical assumption before investing in full build.
Scope:
- [Minimal deliverable 1]
- [Minimal deliverable 2]
Success Criteria: [What must be true to proceed?]
Timeline: [TBD, needs technical review]
MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
Goal: Deliver end-to-end functionality for limited scope (e.g., 1-3 pilot users or brands).
Scope:
- [Feature 1]
- [Feature 2]
- [Feature 3]
Not in MVP:
- [Deferred item 1]
- [Deferred item 2]
Success Criteria: [Measurable outcomes]
Timeline: [TBD, needs technical review]
V1 (Production Release)
Goal: Scale to full production use across all users or brands.
Scope (additions to MVP):
- [Enhancement 1]
- [Enhancement 2]
- [Enhancement 3]
Success Criteria: [Production-grade metrics]
Timeline: [TBD, needs technical review]
6. Users and Use Cases
6.1 Primary Users
List who will use or interact with the system:
- [User type 1]
- [User type 2]
- [User type 3]
6.2 User Flow
Primary User: [Who is the main user?]
Journey:
- [Step 1: User action]
- [Step 2: System response]
- [Step 3: User action]
- [Continue as needed]
6.3 Key Use Cases
Describe the main tasks users want to perform:
- [Use case 1]
- [Use case 2]
- [Use case 3]
7. Functional Requirements
Describe what the system must be able to do. Keep each requirement clear and testable.
7.1 Inputs
- [Input requirement 1]
- [Input requirement 2]
7.2 Processing
- [Processing requirement 1]
- [Processing requirement 2]
7.3 Outputs
- [Output requirement 1]
- [Output requirement 2]
7.4 Workflow or Interaction Logic
- [Workflow requirement 1]
- [Workflow requirement 2]
8. Technical Approach
Architecture Overview
[Simple diagram or description of components]
Key Components
| Component | Technology | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| [Frontend] | [React/Angular/etc.] | [Key considerations] |
| [Backend] | [Node/Python/etc.] | [Key considerations] |
| [Database] | [Postgres/Mongo/etc.] | [Key considerations] |
| [Integrations] | [APIs] | [Key considerations] |
Data Model
-- Key tables or collections (simplified)
[Schema or description]API Endpoints
| Method | Endpoint | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| GET | /api/… | [Description] |
| POST | /api/… | [Description] |
9. Assumptions
Things we are betting on being true. If any are wrong, scope or timeline changes.
| # | Assumption | Risk if Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Assumption] | [Impact] |
| 2 | [Assumption] | [Impact] |
| 3 | [Assumption] | [Impact] |
10. Open Questions
Blockers or decisions needing input before or during build.
| # | Question | Owner | Needed By | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Question] | [Person] | [Date or Phase] | Open |
| 2 | [Question] | [Person] | [Date or Phase] | Open |
11. Tradeoffs
Key decisions with alternatives considered.
[Decision 1 Name]
| Option | Pros | Cons | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option A (chosen) | [Pros] | [Cons] | [Low/Med/High] |
| Option B | [Pros] | [Cons] | [Low/Med/High] |
Decision: [Which option and why]
12. Success Metrics
| Metric | Target | How Measured |
|---|---|---|
| [Metric 1] | [Target value] | [Measurement method] |
| [Metric 2] | [Target value] | [Measurement method] |
13. Dependencies
Technical
- [Dependency 1: what is needed, who provides it]
External
- [API access, credentials, third-party services]
Team
- [Who needs to be involved, availability constraints]
14. Risks and Mitigations
| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Risk 1] | High/Med/Low | High/Med/Low | [Mitigation strategy] |
| [Risk 2] | High/Med/Low | High/Med/Low | [Mitigation strategy] |
15. Timeline Summary
| Phase | Scope | Duration | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| POC | [Brief scope] | [TBD] | Not Started |
| MVP | [Brief scope] | [TBD] | Not Started |
| V1 | [Brief scope] | [TBD] | Not Started |
Notes: Timeline estimates require technical review.
16. References
- [Link to SOW, prototypes, related docs]
- [Link to customer examples or inspiration]
- [Link to relevant meeting notes]
Changelog
| Date | Author | Change |
|---|---|---|
| [YYYY-MM-DD] | [Author] | Initial draft |