Scope, non-goals, and release slice
A release slice is the smallest complete sequence that can be shown, checked, and reviewed separately. Scope answers “what is included,” non-goals answer “what we deliberately do not do,” and release criteria answer “what condition allows a review decision.”
Non-goals are not a list of future wishes. They protect the first slice from invisible expansion: multi-user support, billing, scaling, additional integrations, and production deployment should remain out of bounds when they are not needed for the core flow.
Boundary matrix
| Area | In scope | Non-goal | Release criterion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input | One structured scenario | Universal intake for all teams | Input has an explicit schema |
| AI step | One bounded draft or classification step | Autonomous decision without review | Output has a confidence/Unknown boundary |
| Review | One reviewer and checklist | Organizational approval automation | Review criteria are visible |
| Evidence | One reproducible record | Claims about production impact | Every result has a source or Unknown status |
Release slice as a sequence
- Freeze the user, JTBD, and core flow before implementation begins.
- Check that every included item supports the promised outcome.
- Record dependencies, risks, stop conditions, and deferred work.
- Define reviewer-ready acceptance and evidence before the demo.
- Do not expand the slice without a new decision and updated task contract.
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