How to Define a Product Scope
Businesses should use a 3-step process to define the product scope of every project they work on. It’s one of the best methods to manage resources efficiently and to ensure you’re making critical design and development decisions based on concrete, validated evidence.
Oftentimes, companies fail to create successful products not because their idea is bad but because they don’t invest the necessary time to define their product scope.
They end up building products based on gut feelings instead of data and user research. These products probably boast an overwhelming number of features users don’t need or understand. In short, time and money are wasted.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Building a product that users care about requires a plan, a methodology, and a process. When you work on a complex, costly project such as the development of an app, establishing a product scope is crucial.
Essentially, product scope is the sum of all the features and characteristics of a product or service. How it will look, how it will work, and what it will offer to users.
3 Steps to Define a Product Scope
- Lay the foundations of your product
- Define and prioritize product features
- Define the minimum viable product (MVP)
