Tech Fleet | The Melanin Village App
Role:
Lead Product Strategist/Product Owner/Scrum Master
Tools:
Figma, Figjam, Notion, Slack, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Suite, Kanban and Agile Methodologies, Strategy Templates, Google Analytics, SWOT Analysis, and Competitive Analysis, SCRUM.
Skills:
Problem-solving, prioritization, leadership, project management, cross-functional collaboration, Design Thinking, stakeholder management, decision-making, adaptability, networking, innovation, Agile, Lean and Scrum methodologies, and customer-centric thinking.
Time Frame
Phase 0: 6 weeks, Entire Project: 1 year
Problem Statement:
The Melanin Village, a dedicated non-profit organization, faces a multifaceted challenge as it strives to empower and equip Black and Brown families for homeschooling. This challenge centers on the need to create an all-in-one platform that seamlessly integrates educational resources, improves communication, enhances user experience, and fosters content creation. This strategic development is pivotal in driving revenue growth to further support the organization's mission and, ultimately, extend the reach of essential resources to more families.
The current digital infrastructure used by the Melanin Village is no longer sufficient for their expanding needs. They are seeking a cost-effective and scalable solution that can host educational resources and foster a social community while providing a top-notch, user-friendly experience. This platform is crucial for their mission of empowering Black and Brown families for homeschooling.
Objectives
Tech Fleet: The Melanin Village Project, Phase 0
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To formulate a comprehensive product strategy that aligns with the organization's business goals.
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To create a Product Requirements Document (PRD) that outlines the product's features, functionality, and user requirements.
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To define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for measuring the success of the product.
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To design and develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that serves as the initial version of the product.
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To determine the strategic direction that the project should follow to achieve the established business goals.
Strategic Process
Research & Discovery
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Market research to understand the target audience, competition, and industry trends.
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User research to gain insights into user needs, preferences, and pain points.
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Identify business goals, constraints, and resources available for the project.
Product Strategy Development
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Formulate a product strategy that aligns with the business objectives and user needs.
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Define the unique value proposition of the product.
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Establish a clear vision and mission for the project.
Product Requirements Document
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Create a comprehensive PRD that outlines the product's features, functionality, and design.
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Specify technical requirements, including platforms and technologies.
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Include user stories, use cases, and wireframes.
Key Performance Indicators
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Define KPIs that will be used to evaluate the product's performance.
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Set measurable goals and metrics for assessing user engagement, conversion rates, and other relevant indicators.
MVP Development:
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Formulate a product strategy that aligns with the business objectives and user needs.
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Define the unique value proposition of the product.
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Establish a clear vision and mission for the project.
Strategic Direction Determination:
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Determine the future direction of the projecteatures, functionality, and design.
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Analyze current tech stack and strategize best options.
Expected Outcomes
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A well-defined product strategy aligned with business goals and user needs.
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A comprehensive PRD that serves as a blueprint for product development.
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Clearly defined KPIs for measuring product success.
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A functional direction for the MVP.
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A clear direction for the project to achieve long-term business objectives.
Phase 0 Deliverables
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Product Requirements Document
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Competitive Analysis
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Problem Statements
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Assumptions & Dependencies
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Features & Functionality Requirements
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Success Metrics
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MVP options and prioritization framework
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Business & User Goals
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Tech Stack Analysis
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Tech Stack Map
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Product Roadmap
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Product Vision Boards
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Product Vision Workshop
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Digital Strategist & Dev Consultations
My Role | Lead Product Strategist
Scrum Master
My duties included facilitating Scrum events, Sprint Planning, Daily Standups, and Sprint Retrospectives. I ensured the meetings were productive and time-boxed.
Servant Leadership
Helping the team perform at their best, providing support, and protecting the team from external distractions.
Monitoring Progress
I kept an eye on the team's progress through the Kanban board and ensured that they were on track to meet their Sprint goals.
Communication Faciliator
Facilitated communication within the team and between the team and external stakeholders, Design and Development teams, subject matter experts, and digital strategists to help ensure transparency and understanding.
Product Strategy & Discovery
Researched, adapted, and introduced frameworks to best align with project requirements. Assumed responsibility for the Product Requirements Document (PRD) and guided the team through the conceptual discovery phase, delegating tasks step by step based on timeframes and team members' strengths and interests.
Collaboration
Encouraged collaboration between the team, Product Owner, and stakeholders, ensuring that everyone is aligned and working towards a common goal. Helped to resolve conflicts as they arose and fostered a collaborative and harmonious environment.
Empowerment & Support
Empowerment: They empower the team to self-organize and make decisions. The Scrum Master trusts the team's abilities and helps them become more autonomous.
Strategic Process for The Melanin Village Phase 0
Business Goals & Objectives
Market Research and Analysis:
Product Vision and Mission:
Prioritization & Product Roadmap
Product Requirements Document
Minimum Viable Product
Seeking to understand the overarching business goals and objectives. What is The Melanin Village trying to achieve, and how does the product contribute to those goals?
Conducting in-depth research to understand the market, target audience, and competition. This involves gathering data on customer needs, preferences, and pain points, as well as analyzing market trends and S.W.O.T. analysis.
Define a clear product vision and mission statement. What is the purpose of the product, and what problem does it solve for users?
Prioritize features and enhancements based on their alignment with the product strategy and their potential impact on user satisfaction and business goals. Bring Phase 0 Product Roadmap to life and begin to develop a timeline for the duration of the project.
Create a comprehensive PRD that outlines the specific features, functionality, and technical requirements of the product.
Begin to develop an MVP that includes the essential features required to launch the product.
