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Project Initiation Journey
This document maps the complete journey of a Product Owner initiating a new project using the BMAD Method.
Persona Profile: Product Owner
Name: Patricia (Product Owner)
Role: Product Owner / Product Manager
Experience: 5+ years in product management
Goals:
- Define clear project scope and requirements
- Create comprehensive project documentation
- Set up project structure for team success
- Establish measurable success criteria
Pain Points:
- Balancing detail with time constraints
- Communicating technical requirements clearly
- Ensuring alignment between business and technical teams
- Managing stakeholder expectations
Journey Map
```mermaid title="Project Initiation Journey" type="diagram" journey title Project Initiation User Journey section Project Definition Identify business need: 4 Define project scope: 3 Establish success criteria: 4 section Requirements Gathering Collect stakeholder input: 3 Document user stories: 2 Prioritize requirements: 3 section Project Setup Create project structure: 4 Define technical approach: 3 Establish timeline: 2 section Handoff Brief development team: 4 Address questions: 3 Begin implementation: 5 ```
Detailed Journey Stages
1. Project Definition Phase
Entry Point
- Business request for new feature/product
- Market opportunity identification
- Technical debt or system improvement need
Key Touchpoints
- Project Brief Template: Initial documentation structure
- BMAD PO Persona: Guidance on project definition
- Success Criteria Framework: Establishing measurable outcomes
Decision Points
- Project Scope Definition: Determining boundaries and MVP
- Solution: Scope definition template with examples
- Success Metric: 90% of projects stay within initial scope
Pain Points
- Ambiguous Business Requirements: Unclear objectives from stakeholders
- Solution: Requirement clarification prompts and templates
- Success Metric: Reduction in scope changes after initiation
- Success Criteria Formulation: Difficulty defining measurable outcomes
- Solution: SMART goal templates with industry-specific examples
- Success Metric: 100% of projects have quantifiable success metrics
2. Requirements Gathering Phase
Key Touchpoints
- Stakeholder Interview Guide: Structured approach to gathering input
- User Story Template: Standardized format for requirements
- Prioritization Framework: Method for ranking requirements
Decision Points
- MVP Feature Selection: Determining core vs. nice-to-have features
- Solution: Value/effort prioritization matrix
- Success Metric: MVP delivery time reduced by 30%
Pain Points
- Stakeholder Alignment: Conflicting priorities from different departments
- Solution: Stakeholder alignment workshop templates
- Success Metric: Stakeholder consensus achieved before development starts
- Technical Feasibility: Uncertainty about implementation possibilities
- Solution: Early architect consultation workflow
- Success Metric: Technical roadblocks identified before development
3. Project Setup Phase
Key Touchpoints
- Project Structure Template: Standardized project organization
- Technical Approach Document: Architecture and technology decisions
- Timeline Generator: Realistic schedule creation
Decision Points
- Technology Stack Selection: Choosing appropriate technologies
- Solution: Technology comparison framework with recommendations
- Success Metric: 95% of projects use recommended technology patterns
Pain Points
- Timeline Estimation: Difficulty predicting development time
- Solution: Historical data-based estimation templates
- Success Metric: Delivery estimates within 20% of actual time
- Resource Allocation: Uncertainty about required team composition
- Solution: Skill matrix and resource planning tools
- Success Metric: Reduced mid-project resource adjustments
4. Handoff Phase
Key Touchpoints
- Development Brief Template: Comprehensive handoff documentation
- Q&A Session Structure: Framework for addressing team questions
- Implementation Kickoff: Structured start to development
Decision Points
- Development Approach: Waterfall vs. agile implementation
- Solution: Development methodology decision tree
- Success Metric: 100% team alignment on approach before starting
Pain Points
- Knowledge Transfer: Ensuring complete understanding by development team
- Solution: Knowledge transfer checklist and verification
- Success Metric: Zero "requirements clarification" delays
- Maintaining Involvement: Balancing oversight without micromanagement
- Solution: RACI matrix for ongoing product owner involvement
- Success Metric: Weekly touchpoints established for all projects
Emotional Journey
```mermaid title="Emotional Journey" type="diagram" journey title Emotional Journey - Project Initiation section Project Definition Excitement about new project: 5 Pressure to define correctly: 2 Confidence in clear direction: 4 section Requirements Gathering Overwhelmed by stakeholder input: 2 Frustration with conflicting needs: 2 Satisfaction with prioritized list: 4 section Project Setup Concern about technical decisions: 3 Anxiety about timeline accuracy: 2 Relief with completed structure: 4 section Handoff Pride in comprehensive documentation: 5 Nervousness about team reception: 3 Excitement as implementation begins: 5 ```
Success Metrics
| Metric | Target | Measurement Method |
|---|---|---|
| Time to Project Definition | < 3 days | Project timeline tracking |
| Requirement Clarity Score | > 4.5/5 | Development team survey |
| Scope Change Requests | < 15% | Change request tracking |
| Handoff Completeness | 100% checklist completion | Handoff verification |
| Development Start Delay | < 1 day after handoff | Project timeline analysis |
Journey Optimization Opportunities
- Automated Stakeholder Input: Streamline gathering and consolidating feedback
- AI-Enhanced Requirement Writing: Improve clarity and testability of requirements
- Predictive Timeline Generation: Use historical data to improve estimates
- Interactive Project Visualization: Better communicate project structure to stakeholders
- Continuous Feedback Loop: Establish mechanisms for ongoing refinement
Next Steps in User Journey
After completing the project initiation journey, Product Owners typically proceed to:
- Sprint Planning Journey - Organizing work into manageable increments
- Feature Prioritization Journey - Ongoing backlog management
- Stakeholder Communication Journey - Regular updates and expectation management
The project initiation journey establishes the foundation for project success and sets expectations for all participants.