Spec to Engineering Handoff
A spec is not a handoff. A handoff is the complete package an engineering team needs to begin building without coming back to the PM for clarification. Most handoffs fail not because the spec is wrong, but because it's incomplete. This skill turns a finished spec into a complete handoff package.
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Context
What engineers need that specs often don't include:---
Step 1 — Audit the spec for handoff readiness
Checklist covering: Requirements (behaviour-based, bounded scope, testable acceptance criteria), Data (schemas, field types, sample data, API contracts), Design (all states designed), Errors and Edge Cases (error states, rate limits, boundary inputs), AI-Specific (prompt spec, eval test cases, guardrails, hallucination mitigation), Dependencies (upstream and downstream), and Open Questions (all resolved or with owner and deadline).
Step 2 — Assemble the handoff package
Nine sections: Summary (what we're building and NOT building, definition of done), Requirements (user stories + GIVEN/WHEN/THEN acceptance criteria), Data Contracts (input/output schemas, database changes, API contracts, sample data), Design Assets (linked, all states confirmed), Error Handling (per error case: condition, handling, user-facing message), AI-Specific Requirements (prompt spec, eval, hallucination mitigation, guardrails), Dependencies (upstream and downstream with owners), Open Questions, and Testing Requirements (PM-owned and engineering-owned).
Step 3 — Write the kick-off meeting brief
30-minute agenda: Scope confirmation (10 min, PM-led), Blockers and questions (10 min, engineering-led), Agreement (10 min, confirm start readiness and change management process).
Step 4 — Define the change management process
Minor change (clarification → inline update), Moderate change (new edge case → agree with engineering lead), Major change (new requirement → next sprint ticket). Spec freeze rules once engineering starts.