Cut scope to hit a fixed release date
Scope-cut options ranked by value lost versus time saved, plus how to present the trade-off to stakeholders.
The prompt
Help me cut scope so we can still hit a fixed release date.
Release goal and date: [WHAT MUST BE TRUE AT LAUNCH, AND WHY THE DATE IS FIXED]
Current scope: [ITEMS WITH ESTIMATES AND STATUS]
Remaining capacity: [TEAM, WORKING DAYS LEFT, KNOWN ABSENCES]
Gap: [HOW FAR OVER WE ARE, IF KNOWN]
Commitments already made: [TO CUSTOMERS, SALES, MARKETING]
Steps:
1. Separate must-have from nice-to-have by asking: without this, does the release still achieve its goal for the core user?
2. For each candidate cut, consider options short of removal: simplify, make manual, limit to one segment or platform, ship behind a flag, follow up in a fast second release.
3. Estimate time saved versus value lost for each option.
4. Identify risks we must not cut: quality, security, accessibility, data integrity, legal requirements.
Return:
- A table: Item | Option | Time saved | Value lost | Who is affected | Recommendation.
- The recommended scope package that fits capacity with a small buffer.
- What moves to the follow-up release, with a target window.
- A message to stakeholders explaining the trade-off, what they still get, and what changes for anyone we made commitments to.
Do not suggest cutting testing or quality checks to save time.
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
Fill in the blanks and use this promptMore Projects & Operations prompts
What to fill in
- WHAT MUST BE TRUE AT LAUNCH, AND WHY THE DATE IS FIXED
- ITEMS WITH ESTIMATES AND STATUS
- TEAM, WORKING DAYS LEFT, KNOWN ABSENCES
- HOW FAR OVER WE ARE, IF KNOWN
- TO CUSTOMERS, SALES, MARKETING
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the RTF structure (Role, Task, Format). RTF tells the model who to be, what to do and what shape the answer should take. It is the quickest structure that still gives noticeably better results than a bare request.
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