The Most Dangerous Thing in Product Planning: Executing on the Wrong Premise
In mobile app development, the scariest problems don’t start in code — they start in the PRD. A PRD (Product Requirements Document) is the product’s skeleton and the shared language of the team. Yet, many teams unknowingly write PRDs that set them up for confusion and misalignment later. Here are five of the most common PRD mistakes — and how you can avoid them.
1️⃣ Defining Features Before Defining Users
The most common mistake is starting with “what to build” instead of “who we’re building for.” When you skip the user and jump straight into features, your product loses its direction — and fails to solve real user problems.
How to avoid it: Start your PRD with one sentence:
“This app solves this problem for this group of users.”
Everything else should support that statement.
2️⃣ Listing Solutions Instead of Defining Problems
Too many PRDs read like a feature checklist — “Add chat,” “Improve push notifications,” “Enhance dashboard.” But a great PRD doesn’t start with solutions. It starts with understanding the problem structure.
How to avoid it: Ask yourself:
“What fundamental pain point does this feature solve?”
The context matters more than the feature itself.
3️⃣ Aiming for Perfection Instead of Shipping an MVP
Startups thrive on speed and learning, but many teams write PRDs that describe a perfect, complete product. The result? Endless timelines, delayed launches, and fewer real-world insights.
How to avoid it: Clearly separate “Must-have” features from “Nice-to-have” ones. Your first release should focus only on delivering the core value.
4️⃣ Forgetting Cross-Team Communication
A PRD that only makes sense to its author is already a dead document. If designers, developers, and marketers interpret it differently, your final product won’t match the original intent.
How to avoid it: Write PRDs in a shareable, structured format. Include visual elements like user flows, data diagrams, and example scenarios next to feature definitions.
5️⃣ Treating the PRD as a One-Time Document
A PRD isn’t something you write once and forget. As the product evolves, the document must evolve with it. When teams neglect to update their PRDs, no one remembers why certain features exist.
How to avoid it: Treat your PRD as a living document. Track changes, record decisions, and keep the reasoning visible — it preserves your team’s collective context.
Conclusion — A Good PRD Is the Start of a Great UX
Every UX problem can be traced back to one question: “What are we building, and why?” Your PRD is the team’s shared answer to that question — a commitment to clarity. A strong PRD comes before the design, beneath the code, and closer to the user. Let AI help you structure that clarity. Generate a clean, well-organized PRD in minutes — and give your product a stronger foundation for better user experiences.
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