Methodology Frameworks
VisionSpec supports multiple product development methodologies through its profile system. Each profile provides customized templates and evaluation rubrics tailored to the methodology's artifacts and practices.
Available Frameworks
| Profile |
Methodology |
Best For |
| Big Tech Product |
AWS + Google + Stripe + Netflix + more (MRD start) |
New product lines with comprehensive practices |
| Big Tech Feature |
AWS + Google + Stripe + Netflix + more (OpportunitySpec start) |
Features with comprehensive practices |
| AWS Product |
Working Backwards (MRD start) |
New product lines, major initiatives |
| AWS Feature |
Working Backwards (OpportunitySpec start) |
Features on existing products |
| Google |
Design Docs + RFC |
Engineering-heavy, data-driven organizations |
| Stripe |
API-First |
Platform and API products |
| Shape Up |
Basecamp (Ryan Singer) |
Fixed time, variable scope, betting on pitches |
| Continuous Discovery |
Teresa Torres |
Weekly touchpoints, assumption testing |
| Lean Startup |
Build-Measure-Learn |
Early-stage validation |
| Design Thinking |
Stanford d.school |
Human-centered design |
| JTBD |
Jobs to be Done |
Understanding customer motivations |
Choosing a Framework
By Scope
| Scope |
Starting Document |
Recommended Profile |
| New product line |
MRD |
Big Tech Product, AWS Product, Lean Startup |
| New feature |
OpportunitySpec / OST |
Big Tech Feature, AWS Feature, Continuous Discovery |
| API/Platform feature |
OpportunitySpec |
Big Tech Feature, Stripe |
| Fixed-time project |
Pitch |
Shape Up |
| Continuous improvement |
OST |
Continuous Discovery |
| Experiment |
Hypothesis |
Lean Startup, Continuous Discovery |
By Company Stage
| Stage |
Recommended Profiles |
| Pre-PMF (0-1) |
Lean Startup, Continuous Discovery, Design Thinking, JTBD |
| Startup |
Lean Startup, Shape Up, Continuous Discovery |
| Growth |
Big Tech Product/Feature, Google, Stripe, Continuous Discovery |
| Enterprise |
Big Tech Product/Feature, Google, AWS Product, Stripe |
By Product Type
| Product Type |
Recommended Profiles |
| Consumer App |
Big Tech Product, Design Thinking, JTBD, AWS Product |
| B2B SaaS |
Big Tech Product, AWS Product, Google, Lean Startup |
| Platform/API |
Big Tech Feature, Stripe, Google |
| Internal Tools |
Google, Big Tech Feature |
| Hardware |
Design Thinking, JTBD |
By Team Culture
| Culture |
Recommended Profiles |
| Writing-heavy |
Big Tech Product, AWS Product, Stripe, Google |
| Engineering-led |
Big Tech Product/Feature, Google, Stripe |
| Design-led |
Design Thinking, JTBD, Continuous Discovery |
| Data-driven |
Big Tech Product/Feature, Google, Lean Startup |
| Customer-obsessed |
Big Tech Product, AWS Product, JTBD, Continuous Discovery |
| High autonomy |
Shape Up, Big Tech Product/Feature (Netflix/Spotify) |
| Research-integrated |
Continuous Discovery |
Using Profiles
List Available Profiles
Initialize Project with Profile
multispec init my-project --profile aws
Show Profile Details
multispec profiles show google
Export Profile for Customization
multispec profiles export stripe ./my-profiles/stripe-custom
Combining Frameworks
Profiles can be extended and combined. For example:
# multispec.yaml
profile: aws
extends:
- lean-startup # Add hypothesis validation
# Or create a custom profile
profile: ./profiles/my-hybrid.yaml
VisionSpec Document Mapping
Each framework maps its artifacts to VisionSpec's document types:
| VisionSpec |
Big Tech |
AWS |
Google |
Shape Up |
Discovery |
Lean |
Design |
JTBD |
| MRD |
MRD + OKRs |
Business Case |
OKR Doc |
— |
OST |
Hypothesis |
Empathy Map |
Job Statement |
| PRD |
PRD + API |
PRFAQ |
RFC |
Pitch |
Assumption Map |
MVP PRD |
Prototype Spec |
Outcome Reqs |
| UXD |
UXD + DX |
— |
Experiment |
— |
Experience Map |
Experiment |
Journey Map |
Job Map |
| TRD |
Design Doc |
Design Doc |
Design Doc |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Solution Arch |
| Narrative |
6-Pager |
6-Pager |
— |
— |
— |
Pivot Doc |
— |
— |
| Tracking |
— |
— |
— |
Scope/Hill |
Snapshot |
— |
— |
— |