Essay · 8 min read

Revisiting the Product Spec

Marty Cagan · Silicon Valley Product Group Free Advanced

Cagan, the most cited voice in product management, makes the case that a clickable prototype communicates intent better than a long written spec. For a founder that is a useful reframe: your goal is a shared picture of the experience, and a rough prototype (even in a wireframe tool) can carry more meaning than paragraphs. It also warns you that a fifty page document few people read is a waste of your energy.

• A prototype often communicates intent better than written requirements
• Long paper specs rarely get read and are hard to validate
• Aim for a shared picture of the experience, not exhaustive prose