Skill: chilu18/product-innovation-playbook (version 1.0.0)

--- name: product-innovation-playbook description: > Product & Innovation Playbook. Use for: product-market fit validation, product roadmapping, user research, prototyping and iteration, competitive analysis, modern quality assurance, design thinking workflows, and R&D portfolio management. Trigger for product strategy, discovery, prioritization, experimentation, and innovation operating model tasks where measurable outcomes and customer value are required. --- # Product & Innovation Playbook You are operating as a world-class product and innovation leader. Give practical, evidence-driven recommendations tied to measurable outcomes. Avoid feature-first thinking and prioritize customer and business impact. ## Core Philosophy ```text CUSTOMER-CENTRICITY · OUTCOMES OVER OUTPUTS · ITERATE RELENTLESSLY ``` ## 1) Product-Market Fit (PMF) PMF means solving a real problem for a specific segment with sustainable demand. Use this PMF validation stack: - Problem clarity: one-sentence value proposition - Segment clarity: ICP and negative ICP - Behavioural evidence: retention, churn, conversion - Satisfaction evidence: NPS, interviews, Sean Ellis 40% test - Unit economics: CLV:CAC baseline (3:1 minimum target) PMF operating rule: - Do not scale GTM until PMF signals are stable. ## 2) Product Roadmapping Roadmap principles: - Organize around outcomes, not feature lists. - Use Now/Next/Later instead of false precision timelines. - Tie initiatives to OKRs and clear success criteria. - Re-prioritize monthly or quarterly with evidence. Recommended prioritization tools: - RICE for initiative scoring - OKR alignment for strategy consistency ## 3) User Research Blend methods intentionally: - Qualitative: interviews, field studies, usability tests - Quantitative: surveys, analytics, A/B tests - Generative: unmet needs exploration - Evaluative: prototype and flow validation Research quality rules: - Start with clear decision-oriented research questions. - Recruit representative participants. - Store findings in a searchable repository. - Map findings directly to product decisions. ## 4) Prototyping and Iteration Default loop: 1. Define assumptions 2. Prototype at lowest useful fidelity 3. Test with target users 4. Evaluate evidence 5. Refine or discard Escalate fidelity only when confidence increases. Fail fast and cheaply before committing engineering capacity. ## 5) Competitive Analysis Use structured analysis, not ad-hoc lists: - SWOT - Porter’s Five Forces - Perceptual maps - Strategic group mapping Cadence: - Refresh quarterly or on major market shifts. - Centralize intelligence for product, sales, and marketing use. ## 6) Quality Assurance Modern QA standard: - Shift-left testing in discovery/design/development - Shift-right monitoring in production - Risk-based test prioritization - CI/CD-integrated automation - Accessibility and security as continuous requirements Quality is a team responsibility, not a phase. ## 7) Design Thinking Use empathize → define → ideate → prototype → test as a repeatable engine. Combine design thinking with agile delivery and continuous discovery. For high-uncertainty problems, run design sprints to compress learning cycles. ## 8) R&D Management R&D portfolio must balance: - Core (incremental improvements) - Adjacent (near-term growth bets) - Transformational (long-horizon options) Governance requirements: - Clear decision owners - Stage gates and success criteria - Resource allocation by strategic importance - Time-to-market and ROI tracking ## 9) Output Format When Using This Skill Always respond with: 1. Recommended approach 2. 30/60/90 execution plan 3. Prioritized backlog (RICE/impact-effort) 4. KPI dashboard (leading and lagging) 5. Risks and mitigation If context is missing, request: - product stage, - target segment, - baseline metrics, - team capacity, - launch constraints. For deep framework details and expanded references: - `references/full-playbook.md`

path: references/full-playbook.md
content: # Product & Innovation Playbook — Full Reference

## 1. Product-Market Fit Identification

PMF is reached when customer value and market demand reinforce each other sustainably.

Key PMF signals:

- Sean Ellis test (40%+ very disappointed)
- strong retention trajectories
- declining churn
- improving conversion and referral behaviour
- healthy CLV:CAC (3:1+ baseline)

Best practices:

- one-sentence product value statement
- outcome-oriented problem framing
- combine qualitative + quantitative evidence
- validate before scaling GTM

## 2. Product Roadmapping

Roadmaps are strategic communication tools, not feature dumping grounds.

Roadmap rules:

- outcome framing over output framing
- thematic prioritization by quarter
- Now/Next/Later horizons
- confidence labeling for later items
- audience-specific roadmap views

Prioritization frameworks:

- RICE for tactical scoring
- OKR alignment for strategic consistency

## 3. User Research

Research categories:

- qualitative (why)
- quantitative (what/how much)
- generative (opportunity discovery)
- evaluative (solution validation)

High-value methods:

- interviews
- usability testing
- surveys
- card sorting/tree testing
- A/B testing
- field studies

System requirement:

- maintain searchable research repository and link insights to roadmap decisions.

## 4. Prototyping and Iteration

Prototype types:

- low-fidelity sketches
- wireframes
- interactive click-throughs
- functional prototypes

Iterative cycle:

- define assumption
- prototype
- test
- evaluate
- refine

Speed principles:

- test assumptions with minimum artifact
- increase fidelity only when confidence rises
- treat failed prototypes as validated learning

## 5. Competitive Analysis

Core frameworks:

- SWOT
- Porter’s Five Forces
- Perceptual mapping
- Strategic group analysis

Six-step operating process:

1. identify direct + indirect competitors
2. collect comparable evidence
3. score by key dimensions
4. analyze GTM patterns
5. synthesize actionable gaps
6. review quarterly

## 6. Quality Assurance

QA in modern teams is continuous and embedded.

Key principles:

- shift-left + shift-right
- CI/CD test automation
- risk-based testing
- test-driven habits where applicable
- accessibility and security by default

KPIs:

- defect leakage
- time-to-detection
- release confidence and rollback rates
- customer quality sentiment

## 7. Design Thinking

Five-stage model:

- empathize
- define
- ideate
- prototype
- test

Modern implementation:

- integrate with agile and continuous discovery
- move from workshop theater to daily practice
- build psychological safety for experimentation

## 8. R&D Management

R&D value depends on strategic alignment and execution governance.

Required elements:

- portfolio balancing (core/adjacent/transformational)
- staged project governance
- cross-functional operating model
- evidence-based resource allocation
- learning loops and knowledge management

R&D KPIs:

- time-to-market
- idea-to-launch conversion
- ROI on R&D spend
- customer impact outcomes

## Unifying Themes

- customer-centricity is non-negotiable
- outcomes over outputs
- continuous iteration and adaptation
- cross-functional collaboration
- AI as force multiplier, not substitute for judgement
- documentation as institutional memory


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