# My pre-sprint decision memo for AI-generated MVPs

> Source: <https://dev.to/vivian_chi_5018aa69d5ef43/my-pre-sprint-decision-memo-for-ai-generated-mvps-285h>
> Published: 2026-06-14 01:16:57+00:00

I used to move from "this prototype looks promising" to "let's break it into tasks" far too fast.

Now, after NxCode generates a clickable MVP, I stop and write a short pre-sprint decision memo. It is not a product requirement doc. It is a forcing function that tells me whether the flow deserves engineering time at all.

Here is the structure I use.

I do not allow a generic answer like "teams" or "small businesses."

I write:

Example:

The proof screen is the one screen that proves the job is being done.

For a client-intake MVP, mine is usually a board with:

If the most important screen still feels decorative, the MVP is not ready.

I only include the fields that would break trust if they were wrong:

This keeps me from over-modeling too early.

Every AI-generated flow has at least one path that looks complete until you ask an annoying question.

My usual prompts:

If the prototype falls apart here, it is still a demo.

This is where I save the most time. I explicitly mark things out:

The memo is useful because it removes convincing extras before they turn into tickets.

I finish with one sentence the team can challenge:

`Build the intake board, manual status updates, and next-action workflow; leave permissions and reporting out of sprint one.`

That sentence is enough for a useful handoff.

I have been testing this process around NxCode because it lets me review a realistic flow before I commit implementation time:

The prototype gives me something concrete to inspect. The memo decides whether it earns sprint time.