$npx -y skills add product-on-purpose/pm-skills --skill foundation-build-risk-reviewRuns a fast pre-build risk review on a product idea, feature request, or scope change, naming the single assumption most likely to make it fail and returning a clear verdict (build small, validate first, pivot first, or don't build yet) with a no-code validation step. Use before
| 1 | <!-- PM-Skills | https://github.com/product-on-purpose/pm-skills | Apache 2.0 --> |
| 2 | <!-- Adapted from bin1874/before-you-build-skill (Apache-2.0), repositioned PM-neutral. --> |
| 3 | # Build Risk Review |
| 4 | |
| 5 | Don't build it yet. First name the one assumption most likely to make it fail. |
| 6 | |
| 7 | `foundation-build-risk-review` is a fast, pre-commitment gate for product decisions. Given an idea, a feature request, or a scope change, it returns a **Build Risk Review**: the single biggest risk, the evidence behind it, a verdict, and a concrete no-code validation step, then routes you to the skill that does the next piece of work. It is a foundation hub: its job is to triage and dispatch, not to duplicate the deeper skills. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | ## Hard gate |
| 10 | |
| 11 | Do not write code, scaffold a project, recommend a stack, or design implementation. First answer three things: should this be built, what is most likely to make it fail, and what must be validated before committing. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | If the user says the work is for learning, a portfolio, or internal practice, do not judge it by market standards; still flag scope and clarity risks. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | ## When to Use |
| 16 | |
| 17 | - A product idea, MVP, or new bet is about to turn into build work. |
| 18 | - A feature request or scope change has arrived and you need to separate real demand from a polite ask, founder anxiety, or competitor-copying. |
| 19 | - Someone wants a fast "should we build this?" verdict before a PRD, roadmap row, or ticket exists. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | ## When NOT to Use |
| 22 | |
| 23 | | If the ask is | Use instead | |
| 24 | |---|---| |
| 25 | | A launched product's pivot-or-persevere call, weighing usage or market data | `iterate-pivot-decision` | |
| 26 | | You have chosen the assumption and need to design the test | `define-hypothesis` | |
| 27 | | Framing a confirmed problem for the team or leadership | `define-problem-statement` | |
| 28 | | The full nine-block business model, not a single-risk read | `foundation-lean-canvas` | |
| 29 | | Ranking many features or initiatives against each other | `define-prioritization-framework` | |
| 30 | |
| 31 | The boundary that matters most: this skill is **forward-looking and pre-commitment** (low or no data); `iterate-pivot-decision` is **retrospective and post-launch** (it weighs market feedback on something already shipped). |
| 32 | |
| 33 | ## Modes (route first; state the mode at the top) |
| 34 | |
| 35 | 1. **Pre-build** - a new idea, product, or MVP not yet built. The usual primary risks: demand and distribution. |
| 36 | 2. **Feature-change** - a feature request, scope expansion, requirement change, or competitor-copy on an in-progress product. The primary tool here is the demand hierarchy. |
| 37 | |
| 38 | If the product is already launched and the question is whether to change direction, hand off to `iterate-pivot-decision`. If the request is too broad to review responsibly, ask exactly one clarifying question (complete the sentence: "this is for [who] in [situation] to solve [problem]"), then proceed. Never run a long questionnaire; at most two questions before a constrained review. |
| 39 | |
| 40 | ## The review (the contract) |
| 41 | |
| 42 | Produce a Build Risk Review with these parts: |
| 43 | |
| 44 | 1. **Biggest risk (`R1`).** Exactly one primary risk, tagged from `references/risk-taxonomy.md`. Not a long inventory. Add at most three to five supporting risks (`R2`, `R3`, ...). |
| 45 | 2. **Demand level (feature-change mode).** Place the request on the hierarchy: L0 founder anxiety or "competitors have it"; L1 one user asked; L2 repeated asks, no behavior proof; L3 workflow blocker; L4 revenue or retention blocker. Build-now is usually justified only at L3 or L4. |
| 46 | 3. **Evidence ledger.** List the signal that exists and grade each entry on the strength ladder in `references/risk-taxonomy.md`. Likes, compliments, waitlists, and market-size numbers are NOT demand. Real files, booked calls, payment, repeated manual use, or switching from an existing alternative are. |
| 47 | 4. **Verdict** (exactly one): **Build small** / **Validate first** / **Pivot first** / **Don't build yet**. Do not use "Kill". |
| 48 | 5. **Validation step.** A specific, no-code or low-code next action (talk to the ten users who do X; manually deliver the result for three of them; collect a preorder, paid call, or deposit), never generic advice like "build an MVP" or "do user research". |
| 49 | 6. **Routing.** Send the user to the skill that does the next piece of work (see below). |
| 50 | |
| 51 | Be skeptical but |