# Planning Methodology for Breaking Down Work into Features and Tasks

This document provides a repeatable methodology for breaking down large projects into manageable features and actionable development tasks. Follow this process to ensure comprehensive planning, clear dependencies, and accurate estimates.

## Overview

The methodology consists of these phases:
1. **Foundation**: Understand the project vision and core concepts
2. **Requirements**: Create detailed Product Requirements Document (PRD)
3. **Architecture**: Define architectural decisions and data model
4. **High-level Planning**: Create overall task breakdown with estimates
5. **Feature Decomposition**: Break each feature into actionable tasks
6. **Organization**: Structure documentation for easy reference and tracking

## Phase 1: Foundation

### Activities
- Read all core project documents (vision, problem statement, solution)
- Review existing architecture and technology decisions
- Understand business goals and success metrics

### Output
- Clear understanding of what is being built and why
- List of key stakeholders and their needs
- Definition of done for the overall project

## Phase 2: Requirements (PRD)

### Activities
- Create a Product Requirements Document that answers:
  - What is this feature? (Plain English with examples)
  - What problem does it solve?
  - Who are the users?
  - What are the key scenarios/user stories?
  - What are the non-functional requirements (performance, security, etc.)?

### PRD Structure
```
# Feature Name

## Overview
Plain English description with examples

## Problem Statement
Specific problem this feature solves

## User Stories
- As a [role], I want to [action] so that [benefit]
- ...

## Success Criteria
- Metric 1: Target value
- Metric 2: Target value
- ...

## Non-Functional Requirements
- Performance: Response time < X seconds
- Security: Specific requirements
- Scalability: Handle X users/requests
- ...

## Open Questions
List of key decisions that need to be made
```

### Output
- PRD.md file for each major feature or epic
- Validation document confirming PRD completeness

## Phase 3: Architecture

### Activities
- Create Architectural Decision Records (ARDs) for key technical decisions
- Define the data model and entity relationships
- Document technology choices and rationale

### ARD Structure
```
# Architectural Decision Record: Decision Title

## Context
What decision needs to be made and why

## Decision
What we decided

## Status
Proposed/Accepted/Deprecated/Superseded

## Consequences
- Positive: Benefits of this decision
- Negative: Drawbacks or limitations
- Neutral: Other effects

## Alternatives Considered
- Alternative 1: Pros and cons
- Alternative 2: Pros and cons
```

### Data Model Documentation
- Entity relationship diagrams
- Global ID system definition
- Traceability requirements
- Performance considerations

### Output
- ARD.md files for key decisions
- DATA_MODEL.md document
- Validation documents for each

## Phase 4: High-level Planning

### Activities
- Create overall task breakdown for the release/milestone
- Estimate effort by role and time period
- Identify dependencies and critical path
- Plan resource allocation

### Task Breakdown Structure
```
# [Release/Milestone] Task Breakdown

## Overview
Purpose of this document

## Team Assumptions
- Number of engineers by role
- Timeline duration
- Work hours per week
- Total available hours

## Feature Implementation Order
Logical sequence based on dependencies

## Detailed Task Breakdown
### [Time Period]: [Feature/Component]
*(Feature owner: X backend engineers, Y frontend engineers, Z DevOps/QA)*

#### Backend Tasks
- Specific backend development tasks
- **Subtotal: X hours**

#### Frontend Tasks
- Specific frontend development tasks
- **Subtotal: Y hours**

#### DevOps/QA Tasks
- Specific DevOps/QA tasks
- **Subtotal: Z hours**

### [Time Period] Total: Total hours

## Summary by Category
Breakdown of hours by role (backend, frontend, DevOps/QA)

## Grand Total
Total estimated hours with buffer percentage

## Dependencies and Critical Path
- Critical path (longest sequence)
- Parallel execution opportunities

## Resource Allocation Summary
- By week
- By role over time

## Risks and Mitigation
- Technical risks with mitigation strategies
- Schedule risks with mitigation strategies
- Resource risks with mitigation strategies

## Success Metrics Tracking
- Development metrics (velocity, defect rate, etc.)
- Product metrics (post-launch)

## Approval and Sign-off
```

### Output
- TASK_BREAKDOWN_[RELEASE].md file
- Validation document confirming completeness

## Phase 5: Feature Decomposition

### Activities
For each feature from the high-level breakdown:
1. Create a detailed task breakdown
2. Break into 1-4 hour actionable tasks
3. Define dependencies and acceptance criteria
4. Estimate effort and timeline
5. Identify risks and success metrics

### Feature Task Breakdown Structure
```
# Feature Name - Detailed Task Breakdown

## Overview
Purpose of this document

## Feature Summary
- Goal: One-sentence description of what the feature accomplishes
- Timeline: When it will be developed
- Budget: Estimated cost
- Dependencies: What must be completed first

## Task Categories
Logical groupings of tasks (e.g., Backend API, Frontend UI, etc.)

## Detailed Task Breakdown

### [CATEGORY 1] (Estimated: X hours)
#### Task 1.1: Specific Task Description
- Specific actions to take
- **Time**: Y hours

#### Task 1.2: Next Specific Task Description
- Specific actions to take
- **Time**: Z hours

### [CATEGORY 2] (Estimated: X hours)
... (continue for all categories)

## Task Dependencies

### Prerequisites
What must be completed before starting this feature

### Dependency Chain
Logical sequence of task categories

### Parallel Work Opportunities
What can be worked on simultaneously

## Acceptance Criteria for Each Task

### General Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] Code follows established coding standards
- [ ] Unit tests pass with >80% coverage
- [ ] Code reviewed by at least one other engineer
- [ ] Documentation updated as needed
- [ ] No breaking changes to existing functionality

### Specific Acceptance Criteria by Task Category
[List specific criteria for each task category]

## Estimated Time Summary

### By Category
[List hours for each category]
- **Total: X hours**

### By Week (assuming 6 productive hours/day)
[Week-by-week breakdown]

## Definition of Done
A task is considered "Done" when:
1. Code is written and follows coding standards
2. Unit tests are written and passing
3. Code has been reviewed and approved
4. Documentation is updated (if needed)
5. Task is integrated into the main branch
6. No known critical defects

## Tracking Progress
- Daily stand-up updates format
- Weekly review process

## Risks and Mitigation
[List technical, schedule, and quality risks with mitigations]

## Success Metrics for This Feature
- Development metrics (tasks/day, test coverage, etc.)
- Feature metrics (post-implementation KPIs)

## Approval and Sign-off
```

### Output
- [FEATURE_NAME]_BREAKDOWN.md file for each feature
- Stored in a features/tasks/ directory

## Phase 6: Organization

### Activities
- Create a features README that lists all features
- Organize documentation in a logical hierarchy
- Ensure all documents are cross-referenced properly
- Create validation documents for each major artifact

### Directory Structure
```
docs/
├── PRD/
│   ├── PRD_FEATURE_NAME.md
│   └── PRD_VALIDATION_FEATURE_NAME.md
├── ARD/
│   ├── ARD_DECISION_NAME.md
│   └── ARD_VALIDATION_DECISION_NAME.md
├── architecture/
│   ├── DATA_MODEL_ARCHITECTURE.md
│   └── DATA_MODEL_VALIDATION.md
├── tasks/
│   ├── TASK_BREAKDOWN_[RELEASE].md
│   └── TASK_BREAKDOWN_VALIDATION_[RELEASE].md
└── features/
    ├── README.md
    └── tasks/
        ├── FEATURE_1_BREAKDOWN.md
        ├── FEATURE_2_BREAKDOWN.md
        └ ... etc ...
```

### Output
- Well-organized documentation repository
- README files explaining the structure
- Validation documents for quality assurance

## Key Principles

1. **Atomic Tasks**: Break work into 1-4 hour tasks that can be completed by one engineer
2. **Clear Dependencies**: Explicitly state what must come before what
3. **Parallelization**: Identify what can be worked on simultaneously
4. **Validation**: Each major document should have a corresponding validation document
5. **Traceability**: Ensure everything links back to requirements and goals
6. **Estimates**: Include time estimates at all levels (task, feature, release)
7. **Risks**: Proactively identify risks and mitigation strategies
8. **Metrics**: Define how success will be measured
9. **Living Documents**: Treat all documents as updatable as the project progresses
10. **Review Process**: Include approval and sign-off for each major document

## How to Use This Methodology

1. Start with Phase 1 (Foundation) to understand the project
2. Proceed through each phase in order
3. For each major artifact created, create a validation document
4. Organize documents in the recommended directory structure
5. Update the session log as you complete each major step
6. Use the feature breakdowns as the implementation guide for development teams

## Example Application

This methodology was successfully applied to plan Phase 1 of an AI-native engineering platform with:
- 8 features across 3 months
- Detailed task breakdowns for each feature
- Clear dependencies and parallel work opportunities
- Accurate effort estimates by role
- Comprehensive risk mitigation strategies
- Defined success metrics for tracking progress

The result was a complete, actionable plan that enabled teams to begin implementation with confidence.
