Promise-Driven Development: Foundations

From Shipping Features to Keeping Promises

Master Course Document v1.0

Offered by: Canadian Institute of Software Product Management (CISPM)
Audience: Software Engineers
Duration: 6 units × 3 hours (18 contact hours)
Format: 45-45-45 (Lecture – Exercise – Synthesis)
Version: 1.0
Last Updated: January 2026

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Course Overview

Catalog Description (75 words)

This course introduces Promise-Driven Development (PDD), a methodology for organizing software product development around explicit value commitments to users. Software engineers master the five-level Promise Model Stack, learn to distinguish between feature delivery and value delivery, and develop competency in promise discovery, mapping, and product coherence evaluation. Through evidence-based instruction and applied exercises, engineers gain frameworks for principled product decisions—skills that differentiate them throughout their careers.

Positioning

For software engineers transitioning from project-based thinking to product-based thinking. This course addresses the gap between shipping features and delivering value—skills that differentiate engineers in their careers.

Core Message

Software teams ship features. Successful products keep promises.

You've spent years building projects. Now it's time to build products. The difference isn't just scope—it's mindset. Projects end; products evolve. Projects have requirements; products make promises. This course bridges that gap.

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Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

Upon successful completion of this course, software engineers will be able to:

CLO	Outcome	Bloom's Level
CLO 1	Explain the Promise-Driven Development paradigm and describe how it addresses limitations of feature-driven approaches to software product development	Understand
CLO 2	Apply the Promise Model Stack architecture to analyze and structure software products across five levels (Promise → Epic → Journey → Flow → Moment)	Apply
CLO 3	Analyze the progression from user input to validated promise and distinguish between promise hypotheses and commitments	Analyze
CLO 4	Evaluate proposed features and scope decisions using promise-driven criteria, demonstrating rationale for inclusion, modification, or rejection	Evaluate
CLO 5	Construct initial Promise Maps for novel software product contexts	Create

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CLO ↔ ULO Mapping Matrix

ULO	CLO 1	CLO 2	CLO 3	CLO 4	CLO 5
1.1	P
1.2	P
1.3	P
1.4	P
2.1	S	P
2.2	S	P
2.3		P
2.4		P
3.1		P
3.2		P		S
3.3		P		S
3.4				P
4.1			P
4.2			P
4.3			P
4.4			S	P
5.1				P
5.2		P		S
5.3				P
5.4				P
6.1	S	S	S	P
6.2	S	P		S	P
6.3	S		S	P	S
6.4	S	S		P	S

P = Primary alignment | S = Supporting alignment

Note: Unit 6 (Applying PDD) serves as the synthesis unit, integrating all five CLOs.

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Bloom's Progression Summary

Unit	Title	Bloom's Range	Key Verbs
1	Software as Promise	Understand	Distinguish, Explain, Identify, Recognize
2	The Promise Model Stack	Understand → Apply	Define, Explain, Apply, Analyze
3	Software Moments	Understand → Analyze	Define, Classify, Analyze, Predict
4	Promise Discovery	Understand → Evaluate	Define, Explain, Distinguish, Evaluate
5	Product Coherence	Apply → Evaluate	Apply, Trace, Identify, Demonstrate
6	Applying PDD	Analyze → Create	Identify, Construct, Evaluate, Demonstrate

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Delivery Context

Session Structure (per unit)

Each 3-hour session follows a 45-45-45 format with breaks:

Block	Duration	Focus	Description
Block 1: Lecture	45 min	Exposition + Activation	Core concepts with prereading activation woven throughout
Break	10 min
Block 2: Exercise	45 min	Applied Practice	Jam session: teams create artifacts, pitch to peers
Break	10 min
Block 3: Synthesis	45 min	Discussion + Integration	Debrief exercises, sharpen concepts, connect to work

Total structured time: ~2.5 hours
Total session time: ~3 hours (including breaks)

Exercise Format: Jam Sessions

Block 2 exercises use a consistent structure:

Phase	Time	Description
Intro	5 min	Explain activity, form teams, distribute materials
Create	15-20 min	Teams produce artifact
Pitch	5 min × rotations	One team presents; another listens and challenges
Rotate	10-15 min	Repeat with new pairings
Wrap	5 min	Refine artifact, prep for debrief

Class Context

Parameter	Typical Range
Class size	20-30 engineers per section
Team size	3-6 engineers per team
Teams per section	5-6 teams

Prereading by Unit

Unit	Prereading	Time
1	Chapter 1 + Intro Narrative	~35 min
2	None	—
3	None	—
4	Promise Discovery Overview	~20 min
5	None	—
6	None	—

Total prereading: ~55 minutes across 6 weeks

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Slide Pacing Guidelines

Context	Time/Slide	Notes
Unit 1 Lecture	~2.8 min/slide	Discussion-heavy, foundational
Units 2-5 Lecture	~2.2-2.5 min/slide	Teaching pace
Unit 6 Lecture	~2.2-2.5 min/slide	Integration focus
Synthesis blocks	~3-3.5 min/slide	Discussion-heavy
Exercise blocks	N/A	On-screen support, not presentation

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Unit Outlines

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Unit 1: Software as Promise

Theme: From Project to Product
Prereading: Chapter 1 + Intro Narrative (~35 min)
Primary CLO: CLO 1

Unit Learning Outcomes

ULO	Outcome	Bloom's
1.1	Distinguish between project-based and product-based thinking in software development	Understand
1.2	Explain why organizing software product development around explicit promises produces more coherent outcomes than organizing around features	Understand
1.3	Identify symptoms of promise-incoherent product development (scope creep, feature orphans, "agile theater")	Understand
1.4	Recognize implicit and explicit promises in familiar software products	Understand

Mastery Indicators

• Accurately distinguishes feature-driven from promise-driven framing in case examples
• Articulates the organizational alignment benefits of explicit promises
• Recognizes promise-incoherence patterns without prompting
• Explains why product thinking matters for engineering careers

Block 1: Lecture (45 min)

#	Topic	ULO	Time	Slides
1.1	Welcome & Course Framing	—	5 min	• Unit 1 Title • Why You're Here • The 6-Unit Journey
1.2	From Project to Product	1.1	10 min	• Projects vs. Products • Projects End, Products Evolve • Requirements vs. Promises
1.3	The Promise Paradigm	1.2	10 min	• What Is a Promise? • Features Ship, Promises Keep • Promise Examples: Netflix, Uber, LinkedIn
1.4	What Breaks Without Promises	1.3	10 min	• Symptoms of Incoherence • Scope Creep • Feature Orphans • Agile Theater
1.5	Seeing Promises in the Wild	1.4	10 min	• Implicit vs. Explicit Promises • Reverse-Engineering Promises • Exercise Setup

Slide count: ~16 | Pace: ~2.8 min/slide

Block 2: Exercise (45 min)

Activity: Promise Safari

Phase	Activity	Time	Slides
Intro	Explain activity, form teams, select product	5 min	• Promise Safari: What You'll Do • Instructions & Artifact Template • Pick Your Product
Create	Identify 2-3 promises. Complete worksheet.	15 min	• On-Screen: Worksheet Template • On-Screen: Timer • On-Screen: Prompt "What value does this promise?"
Pitch	Team presents. Other team reflects back.	5 min × rotations	• Jam Session Rules • Pitch (3 min) + Reflect (2 min) • On-Screen: Timer
Rotate	Switch partners, repeat 2-3 times	15-20 min	• Rotate Now • On-Screen: Timer
Wrap	Refine promises, prep for debrief	5 min	• Capture Your Refinements • What Changed?

Slide count: ~10-12
Artifact: Promise Identification Worksheet

Block 3: Synthesis (45 min)

#	Topic	Time	Slides
3.1	Debrief: What Did You Notice?	15 min	• Debrief Questions • What Was Hard? • Where Did You Disagree?
3.2	Implicit vs. Explicit: The Netflix Example	10 min	• "Love Is Sharing a Password" • The Emotional Contract • When Promises Break
3.3	Connecting to Your Work	10 min	• Your Product's Promises • Discussion Prompt
3.4	Preview: The Promise Model Stack	5 min	• Next Week: Structure • The 5-Level Stack (Teaser)
3.5	Close	5 min	• Key Takeaway • Questions?

Slide count: ~10-12

Unit 1 Summary

Block	Time	Slides	Pace
Lecture	45 min	~16	~2.8 min/slide
Exercise	45 min	~10-12	N/A
Synthesis	45 min	~10-12	~3.5 min/slide
Total	135 min	~36-40

Unit 1 Materials

Material	Description
Slides	Unit 1 deck
Exercise Guide	Promise Safari instructions
Artifact Template	Promise Identification Worksheet
Exemplar	Completed worksheet (Uber or Netflix)
Quiz Bank	5-7 prereading activation questions

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Unit 2: The Promise Model Stack

Theme: Architecture of Value
Prereading: None
Primary CLO: CLO 2

Unit Learning Outcomes

ULO	Outcome	Bloom's
2.1	Define each level of the Promise Model Stack: Promise, Epic, Journey, Flow, Moment	Understand
2.2	Explain the purpose of Promise 0 (Universal Definition of Done) and how it keeps Moments DRY	Understand
2.3	Apply the 3-5 constraint system to evaluate product structure	Apply
2.4	Analyze the structure of a familiar product using the Promise Model Stack	Apply

Mastery Indicators

• Accurately diagrams the five-level stack from memory
• Correctly categorizes product elements by stack level
• Detects constraint violations in case examples with 80%+ accuracy
• Explains how Promise 0 eliminates repetition across Moments

Block 1: Lecture (45 min)

#	Topic	ULO	Time	Slides
2.1	Recap & Bridge	—	5 min	• Unit 2 Title • Last Week: Promises • This Week: Structure
2.2	The Five Levels	2.1	15 min	• The Promise Model Stack • Promise: Why We Exist • Epic: Major Capabilities • Journey: User Experiences • Flow: Process Sequences • Moment: Implementation Units
2.3	Promise 0: The Universal DoD	2.2	8 min	• What Is Promise 0? • Keeping Moments DRY • Promise 0 Examples
2.4	The 3-5 Constraint	2.3	10 min	• Why 3-5? • Too Few = Incomplete • Too Many = Incoherent • Constraint in Practice
2.5	Stack in the Wild	2.4	7 min	• Uber's Stack (Walkthrough) • Exercise Setup

Slide count: ~18-20 | Pace: ~2.2-2.5 min/slide

Block 2: Exercise (45 min)

Activity: Stack Mapping

Phase	Activity	Time	Slides
Intro	Explain activity, form teams, select product	5 min	• Stack Mapping: What You'll Do • Instructions & Artifact Template • Pick Your Product
Create	Map product to stack: 1 Promise → 2 Epics → 2 Journeys each	20 min	• On-Screen: Stack Template Reference • On-Screen: Timer • On-Screen: Prompt "Find a Constraint Violation"
Pitch	Team presents stack. Other team challenges.	5 min × rotations	• Jam Session Rules • Pitch (3 min) + Challenge (2 min) • On-Screen: Timer
Rotate	Switch partners, repeat 2 times	10 min	• Rotate Now • On-Screen: Timer
Wrap	Refine stack, prep for debrief	5 min	• Capture Your Refinements • What Changed?

Slide count: ~10-12
Artifact: Stack Diagram Worksheet

Block 3: Synthesis (45 min)

#	Topic	Time	Slides
3.1	Debrief: Stacks Compared	12 min	• Debrief Questions • Same Product, Different Stacks? • Where Did Constraints Help?
3.2	Common Stack Mistakes	10 min	• Epics That Are Really Journeys • Missing Levels • Constraint Violations
3.3	The Stack as Communication Tool	8 min	• Engineers ↔ Product ↔ Design • One Stack, Many Conversations
3.4	Connecting to Your Work	8 min	• Your Project's Stack • Discussion Prompt
3.5	Preview: Software Moments	5 min	• Next Week: Stories vs. Jobs • Where Work Actually Happens
3.6	Close	2 min	• Key Takeaway • Questions?

Slide count: ~12-14

Unit 2 Summary

Block	Time	Slides	Pace
Lecture	45 min	~18-20	~2.2-2.5 min/slide
Exercise	45 min	~10-12	N/A
Synthesis	45 min	~12-14	~3.2-3.7 min/slide
Total	135 min	~40-46

Unit 2 Materials

Material	Description
Slides	Unit 2 deck
Exercise Guide	Stack Mapping instructions
Artifact Template	Stack Diagram Worksheet
Exemplar	Completed stack for Uber or Spotify
Reference	Promise Model Stack quick reference card

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Unit 3: Software Moments

Theme: Where Work Happens
Prereading: None
Primary CLO: CLO 2, CLO 4

Unit Learning Outcomes

ULO	Outcome	Bloom's
3.1	Define Stories as single-persona interactions and Jobs as multi-persona coordination tasks	Understand
3.2	Classify given Moments as Stories or Jobs with clear rationale	Apply
3.3	Analyze a Flow to identify its Story/Job composition	Analyze
3.4	Predict coordination requirements based on Job identification	Analyze

Mastery Indicators

• Correctly classifies Moments with 85%+ accuracy and clear rationale
• Identifies the typical 3-4 Stories + 1 Job pattern in well-structured Flows
• Anticipates coordination challenges from Job density

Block 1: Lecture (45 min)

#	Topic	ULO	Time	Slides
3.1	Recap & Bridge	—	5 min	• Unit 3 Title • Last Week: The Stack • This Week: The Bottom Level
3.2	What Is a Moment?	3.1	8 min	• Moments: Where Work Lives • The Implementation Unit • Moments Complete Flows
3.3	Stories vs. Jobs	3.1	12 min	• Two Types of Moments • Story: Single-Persona Interaction • Job: Multi-Persona Coordination • The Hidden Complexity
3.4	The 3-4 + 1 Pattern	3.3	10 min	• What We've Observed • 3-4 Stories + 1 Job per Flow • Why This Ratio Matters • Pattern Examples
3.5	Jobs Reveal Coordination Cost	3.4	7 min	• Why Jobs Are Expensive • Estimation Implications • Spotting Hidden Jobs
3.6	Exercise Setup	—	3 min	• Moment Classification: What You'll Do

Slide count: ~18-20 | Pace: ~2.2-2.5 min/slide

Block 2: Exercise (45 min)

Activity: Moment Classification

Phase	Activity	Time	Slides
Intro	Explain activity, form teams, receive Flow scenario	5 min	• Moment Classification: What You'll Do • Instructions & Artifact Template • Your Flow Scenario
Create	Break Flow into Moments. Classify each as Story or Job. Identify the pattern.	20 min	• On-Screen: Story vs. Job Reference • On-Screen: Timer • On-Screen: Prompt "Where's the hidden Job?"
Pitch	Team presents classification. Other team challenges: "Is that really a Job?"	5 min × rotations	• Jam Session Rules • Pitch (3 min) + Challenge (2 min) • On-Screen: Timer
Rotate	Switch partners, repeat 2 times	10 min	• Rotate Now • On-Screen: Timer
Wrap	Refine classifications, note disagreements	5 min	• Capture Your Refinements • Where Did You Disagree?

Slide count: ~10-12
Artifact: Moment Classification Worksheet

Block 3: Synthesis (45 min)

#	Topic	Time	Slides
3.1	Debrief: Classification Challenges	12 min	• Debrief Questions • Which Classifications Were Contested? • Stories That Were Really Jobs
3.2	The Coordination Tax	10 min	• Jobs Require Handoffs • What This Means for Estimation • Job Density as Risk Signal
3.3	Common Classification Mistakes	8 min	• Confusing Complexity with Coordination • The "Solo Job" Trap • When One Story Is Actually Three
3.4	Connecting to Your Work	8 min	• Your Project's Moments • Where Are Your Jobs Hiding? • Discussion Prompt
3.5	Preview: Promise Discovery	5 min	• Next Week: Where Promises Come From • VOC → HVP → CVP
3.6	Close	2 min	• Key Takeaway • Questions?

Slide count: ~12-14

Unit 3 Summary

Block	Time	Slides	Pace
Lecture	45 min	~18-20	~2.2-2.5 min/slide
Exercise	45 min	~10-12	N/A
Synthesis	45 min	~12-14	~3.2-3.7 min/slide
Total	135 min	~40-46

Unit 3 Materials

Material	Description
Slides	Unit 3 deck
Exercise Guide	Moment Classification instructions
Artifact Template	Moment Classification Worksheet
Flow Scenarios	3-4 pre-built Flows for teams to analyze
Exemplar	Completed classification for sample Flow
Reference	Story vs. Job quick reference card

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Unit 4: Promise Discovery

Theme: From Voice to Commitment
Prereading: Promise Discovery Overview (~20 min)
Primary CLO: CLO 3

Unit Learning Outcomes

ULO	Outcome	Bloom's
4.1	Define the three stages of promise discovery: Voice of Customer (VOC), Hypothesized Value Promise (HVP), and Core Value Promise (CVP)	Understand
4.2	Explain why promises require validation before commitment	Understand
4.3	Distinguish between what users say they want and what will actually deliver value	Analyze
4.4	Evaluate the validation strength of a proposed promise	Evaluate

Mastery Indicators

• Accurately sequences discovery stages without conflation
• Identifies validation gaps in promise proposals
• Distinguishes hypothesis from commitment in real-world examples

Block 1: Lecture (45 min)

#	Topic	ULO	Time	Slides
4.1	Recap & Bridge	—	5 min	• Unit 4 Title • So Far: Structure • This Week: Origin
4.2	Where Do Promises Come From?	4.1	8 min	• The Discovery Problem • Promise Maps ≠ Discovery Tools • You Can't Map What You Haven't Found
4.3	The Three Stages	4.1	12 min	• VOC: Voice of Customer • HVP: Hypothesized Value Promise • CVP: Core Value Promise • The Progression
4.4	Why Validation Matters	4.2	8 min	• Hypothesis ≠ Commitment • The Cost of Wrong Promises • When to Commit
4.5	Users Say vs. Users Need	4.3	7 min	• The Say/Need Gap • Faster Horses, Better Questions • Listening Through the Request
4.6	Evaluating Validation Strength	4.4	5 min	• Strong vs. Weak Validation • Evidence Types • Exercise Setup

Slide count: ~18-20 | Pace: ~2.2-2.5 min/slide

Block 2: Exercise (45 min)

Activity: Promise Validation Audit

Phase	Activity	Time	Slides
Intro	Explain activity, form teams, receive promise scenario	5 min	• Promise Validation Audit: What You'll Do • Instructions & Artifact Template • Your Promise Scenario
Create	Identify stage (VOC/HVP/CVP). Assess validation strength. Flag gaps.	20 min	• On-Screen: VOC → HVP → CVP Reference • On-Screen: Timer • On-Screen: Prompt "What evidence is missing?"
Pitch	Team presents assessment. Other team challenges: "Is that really validated?"	5 min × rotations	• Jam Session Rules • Pitch (3 min) + Challenge (2 min) • On-Screen: Timer
Rotate	Switch partners, repeat 2 times	10 min	• Rotate Now • On-Screen: Timer
Wrap	Refine assessment, note validation gaps	5 min	• Capture Your Refinements • What Evidence Would You Need?

Slide count: ~10-12
Artifact: Promise Validation Worksheet

Block 3: Synthesis (45 min)

#	Topic	Time	Slides
4.1	Debrief: Validation Gaps	12 min	• Debrief Questions • What Evidence Was Missing? • VOC Disguised as CVP
4.2	The Premature Commitment Trap	10 min	• Committing Too Early • The Sunk Cost Spiral • How to Stay in Hypothesis Mode
4.3	Real-World Discovery Examples	8 min	• Slack: From Game Company to CVP • Instagram: Pivot to Promise • Discovery Is Messy
4.4	Connecting to Your Work	8 min	• Your Project's Promises: What Stage? • What Validation Do You Have? • Discussion Prompt
4.5	Preview: Product Coherence	5 min	• Next Week: Does This Feature Belong? • The Promise Fit Test
4.6	Close	2 min	• Key Takeaway • Questions?

Slide count: ~12-14

Unit 4 Summary

Block	Time	Slides	Pace
Lecture	45 min	~18-20	~2.2-2.5 min/slide
Exercise	45 min	~10-12	N/A
Synthesis	45 min	~12-14	~3.2-3.7 min/slide
Total	135 min	~40-46

Unit 4 Materials

Material	Description
Slides	Unit 4 deck
Exercise Guide	Promise Validation Audit instructions
Artifact Template	Promise Validation Worksheet
Promise Scenarios	3-4 promises at different stages with varying evidence
Exemplar	Completed validation audit
Reference	VOC → HVP → CVP quick reference card
Quiz Bank	5-7 prereading activation questions

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Unit 5: Product Coherence

Theme: Does This Belong?
Prereading: None
Primary CLO: CLO 4

Unit Learning Outcomes

ULO	Outcome	Bloom's
5.1	Apply the Promise Fit Test to evaluate a proposed feature	Apply
5.2	Trace a Moment through Flow, Journey, Epic to its parent Promise	Apply
5.3	Identify feature orphans—work that serves no existing promise	Analyze
5.4	Demonstrate reasoning for inclusion, modification, or rejection of proposed features	Evaluate

Mastery Indicators

• Completes Promise Fit Test accurately with clear rationale
• Detects orphan features in product backlogs
• Produces well-reasoned recommendations with clear reasoning chain

Block 1: Lecture (45 min)

#	Topic	ULO	Time	Slides
5.1	Recap & Bridge	—	5 min	• Unit 5 Title • So Far: Stack + Discovery • This Week: Evaluation
5.2	The Coherence Problem	—	8 min	• Features Multiply • The Backlog Grows • How Do You Decide?
5.3	The Promise Fit Test	5.1	12 min	• What Is the Promise Fit Test? • The Three Questions • Fit Test Walkthrough • Decision Outcomes: Include, Modify, Reject
5.4	Tracing the Stack	5.2	8 min	• Moment → Flow → Journey → Epic → Promise • The Traceability Requirement • When the Chain Breaks
5.5	Feature Orphans	5.3	7 min	• What Is a Feature Orphan? • How Orphans Happen • Orphan or New Promise?
5.6	Building the Case	5.4	5 min	• Reasoning for Inclusion • Reasoning for Rejection • Exercise Setup

Slide count: ~18-20 | Pace: ~2.2-2.5 min/slide

Block 2: Exercise (45 min)

Activity: Feature Court

Phase	Activity	Time	Slides
Intro	Explain activity, form teams, receive feature proposals	5 min	• Feature Court: What You'll Do • Instructions & Artifact Template • Your Feature Proposals
Create	Run Promise Fit Test on 2-3 features. Trace each. Identify orphans. Build case for each.	20 min	• On-Screen: Promise Fit Test Reference • On-Screen: Timer • On-Screen: Prompt "Include, Modify, or Reject?"
Pitch	Team presents verdict + reasoning. Other team cross-examines.	5 min × rotations	• Jam Session Rules • Present Verdict (3 min) + Cross-Examine (2 min) • On-Screen: Timer
Rotate	Switch partners, repeat 2 times	10 min	• Rotate Now • On-Screen: Timer
Wrap	Finalize verdicts, note contested decisions	5 min	• Capture Your Verdicts • Which Decisions Were Contested?

Slide count: ~10-12
Artifact: Promise Fit Test Worksheet

Block 3: Synthesis (45 min)

#	Topic	Time	Slides
5.1	Debrief: Verdicts Compared	12 min	• Debrief Questions • Same Feature, Different Verdicts? • What Made Decisions Hard?
5.2	The Modify Option	10 min	• When Features Almost Fit • Reshaping to Align • Modify vs. Force-Fit
5.3	Orphans That Become Promises	8 min	• When Rejection Is Wrong • The New Promise Case • Strategic Feature Expansion
5.4	Connecting to Your Work	8 min	• Your Project's Backlog • Run the Fit Test • Discussion Prompt
5.5	Preview: Applying PDD	5 min	• Next Week: Putting It All Together • Building Your Promise Map
5.6	Close	2 min	• Key Takeaway • Questions?

Slide count: ~12-14

Unit 5 Summary

Block	Time	Slides	Pace
Lecture	45 min	~18-20	~2.2-2.5 min/slide
Exercise	45 min	~10-12	N/A
Synthesis	45 min	~12-14	~3.2-3.7 min/slide
Total	135 min	~40-46

Unit 5 Materials

Material	Description
Slides	Unit 5 deck
Exercise Guide	Feature Court instructions
Artifact Template	Promise Fit Test Worksheet
Feature Proposals	6-8 feature proposals (mix of fits, orphans, edge cases)
Exemplar	Completed Promise Fit Test with reasoning
Reference	Promise Fit Test quick reference card

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Unit 6: Applying PDD

Theme: From Framework to Practice
Prereading: None
Primary CLO: CLO 4, CLO 5

Unit Learning Outcomes

ULO	Outcome	Bloom's
6.1	Identify candidate promises for a given product context	Analyze
6.2	Construct a partial Promise Map (Promise → Epic → Journey) satisfying structural constraints	Create
6.3	Evaluate scope proposals using promise-driven criteria	Evaluate
6.4	Demonstrate how architectural decisions align with promise commitments	Evaluate

Mastery Indicators

• Produces Promise Maps that satisfy structural constraints
• Demonstrates scope decisions with coherent promise-based reasoning
• Recognizes when a context is/isn't suitable for promise-driven approach

Block 1: Lecture (45 min)

#	Topic	ULO	Time	Slides
6.1	Recap & Bridge	—	5 min	• Unit 6 Title • The Journey So Far • This Week: Integration
6.2	The Five CLOs	—	5 min	• What You've Learned • CLO 1-5 Recap • Today: All Together
6.3	From Analysis to Construction	6.1, 6.2	10 min	• Analyzing vs. Building • Starting From Zero • Identifying Candidate Promises
6.4	Building the Promise Map	6.2	10 min	• Promise Map Anatomy • Working Top-Down • Applying the 3-5 Constraint • When to Stop
6.5	Scope Decisions in Practice	6.3	8 min	• The Scope Conversation • Promise-Driven Criteria • Saying No With Clarity
6.6	Architecture Meets Promise	6.4	5 min	• Technical Decisions as Promise Decisions • Alignment Examples • Exercise Setup
6.7	Exercise Setup	—	2 min	• Promise Map Build: What You'll Do

Slide count: ~18-20 | Pace: ~2.2-2.5 min/slide

Block 2: Exercise (45 min)

Activity: Promise Map Build

Phase	Activity	Time	Slides
Intro	Explain activity, form teams, receive product brief	5 min	• Promise Map Build: What You'll Do • Instructions & Artifact Template • Your Product Brief
Create	Identify 2-3 promises. Build out Promise → Epic → Journey for one. Apply constraints.	20 min	• On-Screen: Promise Map Template • On-Screen: Timer • On-Screen: Prompt "Does every Journey trace to a Promise?"
Pitch	Team presents map. Other team challenges: scope, constraints, traceability.	5 min × rotations	• Jam Session Rules • Present Map (3 min) + Challenge (2 min) • On-Screen: Timer
Rotate	Switch partners, repeat 2 times	10 min	• Rotate Now • On-Screen: Timer
Wrap	Refine map, note scope decisions made	5 min	• Capture Your Refinements • What Scope Decisions Did You Make?

Slide count: ~10-12
Artifact: Promise Map (partial)

Block 3: Synthesis (45 min)

#	Topic	Time	Slides
6.1	Debrief: Maps Compared	12 min	• Debrief Questions • Same Brief, Different Maps? • Where Did Constraints Bite?
6.2	Scope Decisions Exposed	8 min	• What Got Cut? • How Did You Decide? • Promise-Driven Rationale
6.3	When PDD Fits (and When It Doesn't)	8 min	• Good Contexts for PDD • Challenging Contexts • Adaptation, Not Dogma
6.4	Your Project: Next Steps	8 min	• Applying PDD to Your Work • Starting Points • Discussion Prompt
6.5	Course Wrap-Up	7 min	• The 6-Unit Journey • From Shipping Features to Keeping Promises • What Differentiates You Now
6.6	Close	2 min	• Final Takeaway • Thank You • Questions?

Slide count: ~14-16

Unit 6 Summary

Block	Time	Slides	Pace
Lecture	45 min	~18-20	~2.2-2.5 min/slide
Exercise	45 min	~10-12	N/A
Synthesis	45 min	~14-16	~2.8-3.2 min/slide
Total	135 min	~42-48

Unit 6 Materials

Material	Description
Slides	Unit 6 deck
Exercise Guide	Promise Map Build instructions
Artifact Template	Promise Map Worksheet
Product Briefs	3-4 novel product contexts (not previously used)
Exemplar	Completed Promise Map for sample product
Reference	Promise Model Stack + Promise Fit Test quick reference cards

CLO Integration Check

CLO	How It Appears in Unit 6
CLO 1	Implicit in all reasoning; explicit in course wrap-up
CLO 2	Building the Promise Map (6.2), traceability challenges
CLO 3	Identifying candidate promises (6.1), validation discussion
CLO 4	Scope decisions (6.3), challenge rounds in exercise
CLO 5	Constructing the Promise Map (6.2), primary deliverable

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Course Summary

Slide Count by Unit

Unit	Title	Lecture	Exercise	Synthesis	Total
1	Software as Promise	~16	~10-12	~10-12	~36-40
2	The Promise Model Stack	~18-20	~10-12	~12-14	~40-46
3	Software Moments	~18-20	~10-12	~12-14	~40-46
4	Promise Discovery	~18-20	~10-12	~12-14	~40-46
5	Product Coherence	~18-20	~10-12	~12-14	~40-46
6	Applying PDD	~18-20	~10-12	~14-16	~42-48
Total		~106-116	~60-72	~72-84	~238-272

Exercise Activities by Unit

Unit	Activity	Artifact
1	Promise Safari	Promise Identification Worksheet
2	Stack Mapping	Stack Diagram Worksheet
3	Moment Classification	Moment Classification Worksheet
4	Promise Validation Audit	Promise Validation Worksheet
5	Feature Court	Promise Fit Test Worksheet
6	Promise Map Build	Promise Map (partial)

Materials Inventory

Material Type	Count	Notes
Unit Slide Decks	6	~40-48 slides each
Exercise Guides	6	One per unit
Artifact Templates	6	One per unit
Exemplars	6	One per unit
Quick Reference Cards	5	Stack, Story/Job, VOC→CVP, Promise Fit Test, Promise Map
Quiz Banks	2	Units 1 and 4 (prereading units)
Flow Scenarios	3-4	For Unit 3
Promise Scenarios	3-4	For Unit 4
Feature Proposals	6-8	For Unit 5
Product Briefs	3-4	For Unit 6

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Intellectual Property

All course materials are the intellectual property of Sean Yo, licensed to and published by the Canadian Institute of Software Product Management (CISPM).

• Materials are provided for educational use under CISPM licensing
• CISPM branding must be retained on all materials
• Instructors may add supplementary materials but may not remove attribution
• Derivative works require approval

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Master Course Document v1.0 — January 2026