Product Vision Builder

Product Vision Builder

Purpose

Define a product vision that connects user problems, strategic direction, and measurable north star using the Product Vision Canvas.

Input: Problem statement, persona (optional), business context (optional) Output: Product Vision document with vision statement, principles, and north star metric candidate Examples: See [examples.md](examples.md) for worked input/output.

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Workflow

Step 1: Synthesize inputs

Consolidate:

• Core problem being solved (from problem statement or user input)
• Primary persona and their success definition
• Business constraints (market, timeline, resources)
• Competitive landscape (if provided)

Step 2: Draft vision statement

Format:

For [target user] who [need/problem], [product name] is a [category] that [key benefit]. Unlike [alternatives], we [differentiation].

Keep to 2–3 sentences maximum.

Step 3: Define product principles

Establish 3–5 guiding principles:

• Decision-making rules for the team
• Trade-off preferences (speed vs quality, breadth vs depth)
• Non-negotiables (security, accessibility, etc.)

Each principle must be actionable, not aspirational slogans.

Step 4: Identify north star metric

Select one metric that:

• Reflects core value delivered to users
• Is measurable and trackable
• Correlates with long-term business success

Document:

• North star metric definition
• Input metrics that drive it (3–5 leading indicators)
• Anti-metrics (what you will NOT optimize at expense of vision)

Step 5: Define 3-year direction

Outline:

• Year 1: foundation (what must be true)
• Year 2: expansion (what grows)
• Year 3: maturity (what scales)

Keep realistic given stated constraints.

Step 6: Validate

Run Validation checklist.

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Decision Rules

| Condition | Action | |-----------|--------| | No problem statement or equivalent | Stop; request problem context or run problem-statement-builder | | Vision statement includes feature list | Reframe to outcome and differentiation, not features | | Multiple north star metrics proposed | Force selection of one primary; others become input metrics | | Principles are generic ("user first") | Rewrite as actionable decision rules | | 3-year plan ignores stated constraints | Revise to match resources and timeline |

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Validation

• [ ] Vision statement follows For/Who/Is/That/Unlike/We format
• [ ] 3–5 actionable product principles defined
• [ ] Exactly one north star metric with definition
• [ ] 3–5 input metrics linked to north star
• [ ] Anti-metrics documented
• [ ] 3-year direction is realistic given constraints
• [ ] No feature laundry list in vision statement

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Anti-patterns

• Feature vision — listing capabilities instead of user outcome.
• Multiple north stars — diluting focus across competing metrics.
• Slogan principles — "innovate", "delight users" without decision guidance.
• Ignoring constraints — 3-year unicorn plan for a 2-person team.
• Copying competitor vision — differentiation says "like X but better" without substance.

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Best Practices

• Connect vision directly to validated problem statement.
• Make principles testable: "When X conflicts with Y, choose X."
• North star should be measurable within first 90 days (even if baseline is zero).
• Review vision against persona anti-goals.
• Keep vision stable; tactics change, vision should not shift weekly.

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Output Structure

# Product Vision: [Product Name]

## Vision Statement
[For/Who/Is/That/Unlike/We paragraph]

## Product Principles
| # | Principle | Decision rule |
|---|-----------|---------------|

## North Star
- **Metric:** [name]
- **Definition:** [how measured]
- **Current baseline:** [if known]

## Input Metrics
| Metric | Drives north star by... |
|--------|-------------------------|

## Anti-metrics
- [What we won't optimize]

## 3-Year Direction
| Year | Focus | Key milestone |
|------|-------|---------------|

## Assumptions
- [ ] [Assumption]

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Next Skills

| Outcome | Recommended Skill | |---------|-------------------| | Need to prioritize features | product/feature-prioritization | | Ready for detailed requirements | product/prd-generator | | Need OKRs from vision | product/feature-prioritization | | Vision needs user grounding | product/persona-generator |

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: patonkikh
• Source: patonkikh/APES
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.