Dependency Map

Overview

This map shows how chapters relate to each other and different learning paths through the guide.

Chapter Dependencies

Getting Started

• No dependencies - Start here for all paths

• Enables: All subsequent chapters

Decide What to Build

01 — Idea / Problem

• Depends on: Getting Started

• Enables: 02 — Identify Critical Assumptions

• Can be done in parallel with: None

02 — Identify Critical Assumptions

• Depends on: 01 — Idea / Problem

• Enables: 03 — Form Testable Hypotheses

• Can be done in parallel with: None

03 — Form Testable Hypotheses

• Depends on: 02 — Identify Critical Assumptions

• Enables: 04 — Design & Run Experiments

• Can be done in parallel with: None

04 — Design & Run Experiments

• Depends on: 03 — Form Testable Hypotheses

• Enables: 05 — Extract Key Learnings

• Can be done in parallel with: None

05 — Extract Key Learnings

• Depends on: 04 — Design & Run Experiments

• Enables: 06 — Synthesize Insights → Decision

• Can be done in parallel with: None

06 — Synthesize Insights → Decision

• Depends on: 05 — Extract Key Learnings

• Enables: Build the MVP (all chapters)

• Can be done in parallel with: None

Build the MVP

05 — Planning

• Depends on: 06 — Synthesize Insights → Decision (from Decide)

• Enables: 06 — Setup

• Can be done in parallel with: None

06 — Setup

• Depends on: 05 — Planning

• Enables: 08 — Build Features

• Can be done in parallel with: None

08 — Build Features

• Depends on: 06 — Setup

• Enables: 09 — Deploy

• Can be done in parallel with: None

09 — Deploy

• Depends on: 08 — Build Features

• Enables: Launch & Iterate (Coming Soon) (all chapters)

• Can be done in parallel with: None

Launch & Iterate (Coming Soon)

01 — Prepare ICP

• Depends on: 09 — Deploy (from Build), Decide What to Build (initial ICP research)

• Enables: 02 — Develop Messaging Strategy

• Can be done in parallel with: None

02 — Develop Messaging Strategy

• Depends on: 01 — Prepare ICP

• Enables: 03 — Design Channel Strategy

• Can be done in parallel with: None

03 — Design Channel Strategy

• Depends on: 02 — Develop Messaging Strategy

• Enables: 04 — Build Website V1

• Can be done in parallel with: None

04 — Build Website V1

• Depends on: 03 — Design Channel Strategy

• Enables: 05 — Setup Tool Stack

• Can be done in parallel with: None

05 — Setup Tool Stack

• Depends on: 04 — Build Website V1

• Enables: 06 — Launch Private Beta

• Can be done in parallel with: None

06 — Launch Private Beta

• Depends on: 05 — Setup Tool Stack

• Enables: 07 — Run Experiments, 08 — Synthesize Insights

• Can be done in parallel with: None

07 — Run Experiments

• Depends on: 06 — Launch Private Beta

• Enables: 08 — Synthesize Insights

• Can be done in parallel with: 08 — Synthesize Insights (after initial experiments)

08 — Synthesize Insights

• Depends on: 06 — Launch Private Beta, 07 — Run Experiments (recommended)

• Enables: 09 — Exit to Public Beta

• Can be done in parallel with: 07 — Run Experiments (for ongoing synthesis)

09 — Exit to Public Beta

• Depends on: 08 — Synthesize Insights

• Enables: Iteration back to Decide, Build, or Launch

• Can be done in parallel with: None

Learning Paths

Path 1: Full Product Innovation Cycle

Duration: Complete end-to-end journey Path: Getting Started → Decide (all) → Build (all) → Launch (Coming Soon) (all) → Iterate

Path 2: Quick Decision Making

Duration: Focus on validation before building Path: Getting Started → Decide (all) → [Decision Point: Build or Pivot]

Path 3: Building an MVP

Duration: Focus on execution Path: Getting Started → Build (all) → Launch (Coming Soon) (all)

Path 4: Optimizing Existing Product

Duration: Focus on iteration Path: Getting Started → Launch (Coming Soon) (all) → [Iterate]

Path 5: Skimmer Path

Duration: Overview and templates Path: Getting Started → [Chapter summaries] → Templates → Examples

Path 6: Deep Dive Path

Duration: Comprehensive understanding Path: Getting Started → [All chapters in order] → Worked Examples → Self-Assessments

Prerequisites Map

Before Starting "Decide What to Build"

• Completed "Getting Started"

• Understand Jobs-to-Be-Done framework

• Have access to user research or customer insights

Before Starting "Build the MVP"

• Completed "Decide What to Build" (all chapters)

• Have a validated hypothesis or decision to build

• Have development environment ready (for Dev path)

• Have design tools ready (for PM path)

Before Starting "Launch & Iterate (Coming Soon)"

• Completed "Build the MVP" (all chapters)

• Have working MVP (at least thin vertical)

• Have access to deployment infrastructure

• Have user feedback channels ready

Parallel Work Opportunities

Can Work in Parallel

• 07 — Run Experiments and 08 — Synthesize Insights (after Launch Private Beta, for ongoing synthesis)

Must Be Sequential

• All "Decide" chapters (01-06) must be done in order

• Setup must come before Build chapters

• Launch chapters 01-05 must be done in order before launching

• Launch Private Beta (06) must come before post-launch chapters (07-09)

Dependency Graph

Getting Started
    ↓
Decide What to Build
    ├─ 01 → 02 → 03 → 04 → 05 → 06
    ↓
Build the MVP
    ├─ 05 → 06 → 08 → 09
    ↓
Launch & Iterate (Coming Soon)
    ├─ 01 → 02 → 03 → 04 → 05 → 06 → [07, 08] → 09
    ↓
[Iterate back to Decide, Build, or Launch]

Quick Reference

• Need to validate an idea? → Start at "Decide What to Build"

• Ready to build? → Start at "Build the MVP"

• Have an MVP to launch? → Start at "Launch & Iterate (Coming Soon)"

• Want templates only? → Go directly to chapter Templates

• Want examples only? → Go directly to chapter Examples