Five phases. Fifteen stages.

The five phases are a high-level view of the 15-stage process. The MVPCompanion framework is Method + Process → Integrated MVP Spec → Valuable · Viable · Buildable MVP.

Five phases

1. 01 Understand

   Idea · Problem · User

   1. 01

      Idea

      Frame the initial product idea.

   2. 02

      Problem

      Define the problem independently of the proposed solution.

   3. 03

      User

      Identify the primary user who has the problem.

2. 02 Define

   Value · Product · Context

   1. 04

      Value

      Define the outcome and value the product should create.

   2. 05

      Product

      Define what the product fundamentally is.

   3. 06

      Context

      Define how the product's central object changes over time.

3. 03 Shape

   Jobs · Scope · Experience

   1. 07

      Jobs

      Identify what users need to accomplish.

   2. 08

      Scope

      Derive the smallest useful solution.

   3. 09

      Experience

      Define how the user gets to value.

4. 04 Specify

   Information Architecture · Data · Requirements

   1. 10

      Information Architecture

      Define how the product is organized.

   2. 11

      Data

      Define the data the product needs to operate.

   3. 12

      Requirements

      Define what must be built and how it should behave.

5. 05 Learn

   Learning · Technical Boundaries · MVP Boundary

   1. 13

      Learning

      Define what the MVP needs to test and measure.

   2. 14

      Technical Boundaries

      Define the technical constraints and major risks.

   3. 15

      MVP Boundary

      Define exactly what belongs in the MVP and what does not.

See also the process section on the homepage.