Use Case Methodology
A systematic framework for transforming domain expertise into structured, implementable AI use cases. This methodology bridges the gap between real business problems and technical solutions through rigorous problem definition and validation.
Framework Overview
Our methodology is built on a fundamental principle: ideation is harder than implementation. While technical execution has become increasingly commoditized, the ability to identify, structure, and validate real business problems remains the critical bottleneck in AI product development.
This framework provides a systematic approach to problem structuring that ensures domain expertise translates into actionable technical specifications. It combines enterprise rigor with startup velocity, creating use cases that are both deeply informed by real-world constraints and immediately implementable by technical teams.
The methodology consists of five interconnected phases, each designed to progressively refine problem understanding while maintaining technical feasibility. Unlike traditional consulting approaches that deliver recommendations, this framework produces ownership-ready specifications that form the foundation for equity partnerships.
Five-Phase Framework
Problem Discovery
Deep exploration of domain context to identify genuine business constraints and opportunities. This phase focuses on understanding the real problem space rather than jumping to solutions.
Key Activities
- • Stakeholder interviews with domain experts
- • Current process documentation and analysis
- • Pain point identification and prioritization
- • Constraint mapping (technical, regulatory, operational)
- • Success metric definition and validation
Deliverables
- • Problem statement document (5-10 pages)
- • Stakeholder map with decision authority
- • Current state process flows
- • Constraint documentation with severity ratings
Success Criteria
- • Problem articulated without solution assumptions
- • Measurable business impact quantified
- • Key stakeholders aligned on problem definition
- • Technical feasibility boundaries identified
Use Case Structuring
Translation of domain problems into structured use case specifications that bridge business requirements and technical implementation. This phase creates the foundation for developer engagement.
Key Activities
- • User story development with acceptance criteria
- • Data requirement specification and availability assessment
- • Integration point identification and documentation
- • Edge case enumeration and handling strategies
- • Success metric operationalization
Deliverables
- • Structured use case document (15-25 pages)
- • Data schema specifications
- • API integration requirements
- • User flow diagrams with decision points
- • Test scenario definitions
Success Criteria
- • Use case implementable by developer without domain expert
- • All data dependencies explicitly documented
- • Edge cases comprehensively covered
- • Success metrics technically measurable
Technical Validation
Rigorous assessment of technical feasibility and architectural approach. This phase ensures the use case is implementable within real-world constraints and identifies potential technical risks.
Key Activities
- • Architecture pattern selection and justification
- • Technology stack evaluation and recommendation
- • Performance requirement specification
- • Security and compliance requirement mapping
- • Resource estimation (compute, storage, API costs)
Deliverables
- • Technical architecture document
- • Technology recommendation with trade-off analysis
- • Performance benchmark specifications
- • Security and compliance checklist
- • Resource cost projections
Success Criteria
- • Architecture validated by senior technical reviewers
- • All technical risks identified with mitigation strategies
- • Resource requirements within feasible bounds
- • Compliance requirements fully addressed
Partnership Structuring
Definition of equity-based partnership terms that align incentives between domain experts and developers. This phase establishes the ownership framework for the resulting product.
Key Activities
- • Equity split negotiation based on contribution value
- • Milestone definition with equity vesting schedule
- • IP ownership and licensing terms specification
- • Decision authority framework establishment
- • Exit scenario planning and documentation
Deliverables
- • Partnership agreement draft
- • Equity vesting schedule
- • IP assignment documentation
- • Governance framework document
- • Exit rights and obligations specification
Success Criteria
- • All parties aligned on equity structure
- • Milestone definitions clear and measurable
- • IP ownership unambiguous
- • Decision processes explicitly documented
Implementation Kickoff
Formal transition from planning to execution with clear handoff of specifications and establishment of ongoing collaboration processes. This phase ensures smooth start to development.
Key Activities
- • Developer onboarding with full context transfer
- • Development environment setup and access provisioning
- • Communication protocol establishment
- • First sprint planning with milestone alignment
- • Quality assurance process definition
Deliverables
- • Developer onboarding package
- • Development environment documentation
- • Communication and review schedule
- • First sprint backlog with acceptance criteria
- • QA process and testing framework
Success Criteria
- • Developer has complete context and access
- • First sprint goals clearly defined
- • Review processes established and agreed
- • All parties committed to timeline
12-Week Process Timeline
Initial Discovery
Stakeholder interviews, process documentation, and pain point identification
Problem Validation
Constraint mapping, success metric definition, and stakeholder alignment
Use Case Development
User story creation, data requirement specification, and integration mapping
Specification Refinement
Edge case documentation, test scenario definition, and acceptance criteria
Technical Assessment
Architecture design, technology evaluation, and performance specification
Risk Analysis
Security review, compliance mapping, and resource estimation
Partnership Terms
Equity negotiation, milestone definition, and governance framework
Implementation Launch
Developer onboarding, environment setup, and sprint planning
Partnership Structure Models
Our equity-based partnerships align incentives between domain experts and developers through transparent ownership structures. Each model is designed for specific engagement types, ensuring both parties have appropriate authority and commitment levels for success.
Expert-Led Partnership
Domain expert maintains majority ownership and decision authority, with developer receiving equity for technical execution. Ideal when expert has deep market access and can drive business development.
Ideal For
- • Experts with established industry networks
- • Problems requiring ongoing domain guidance
- • Markets where expert credibility is critical
- • Use cases with complex regulatory requirements
Commitment Level
Expert: 15-20 hours/week, Developer: Full-time
Time Horizon
18-24 months to market validation
Balanced Co-Founder Partnership
Equal equity split with shared decision-making authority. Both parties commit significant time and bring complementary strengths. Requires strong alignment on vision and execution approach.
Ideal For
- • Both parties can commit full-time
- • Problem requires equal domain and technical innovation
- • Long-term product vision with multiple phases
- • Markets requiring both technical and domain credibility
Commitment Level
Both parties: Full-time commitment
Time Horizon
24-36 months to significant scale
Developer-Led Partnership
Developer maintains majority ownership with expert providing advisory role and problem validation. Suitable when technical innovation is primary differentiator and expert can provide structured input without full-time commitment.
Ideal For
- • Developers with strong product vision
- • Technical innovation as primary moat
- • Experts available for advisory capacity
- • Problems with clear technical specifications
Commitment Level
Expert: 5-10 hours/week, Developer: Full-time
Time Horizon
12-18 months to initial product launch
Vesting and Milestone Framework
All equity partnerships include milestone-based vesting schedules to ensure continued commitment and alignment. Standard vesting occurs over 24-36 months with quarterly milestones tied to specific deliverables and business outcomes.
Typical Milestone Categories: Product development milestones (MVP, beta, production launch), business development milestones (customer acquisition, revenue targets), and operational milestones (team building, process establishment). Each milestone includes clear success criteria and equity release percentages.
Governance Framework: Decision authority is explicitly documented for product, technical, business, and strategic decisions. Major decisions require consensus, while operational decisions follow designated authority based on domain (expert for business/domain, developer for technical/product).
Success Criteria Framework
Every use case must meet rigorous success criteria across five dimensions before proceeding to implementation. These criteria ensure both problem quality and execution readiness, minimizing risk of failure due to incomplete preparation.
Clear Problem Articulation
The use case must articulate a specific business problem without prescribing solutions. Success means any technical expert can understand the problem context without domain expertise.
Validation Metrics
- Problem statement passes 'stranger test' (comprehensible to outsiders)
- Business impact quantified with specific metrics
- Current state documented with measurable pain points
- Success criteria defined independently of implementation approach
Implementable Specifications
The use case must be technically implementable by a competent developer without requiring constant domain expert consultation. All technical dependencies and constraints must be explicitly documented.
Validation Metrics
- Data requirements fully specified with availability confirmed
- Integration points documented with API specifications
- Edge cases enumerated with handling strategies defined
- Performance requirements quantified with acceptance thresholds
Market Validation
The use case must address a problem with demonstrated market demand and clear path to revenue. Business model assumptions must be testable and validated through expert networks.
Validation Metrics
- Target customer segment identified with size estimates
- Willingness to pay validated through expert interviews
- Competitive landscape mapped with differentiation clear
- Go-to-market strategy defined with expert network access
Shared Vision and Commitment
Both expert and developer must demonstrate genuine commitment to the problem and alignment on execution approach. Partnership terms must be clear and mutually acceptable.
Validation Metrics
- Time commitment pledges documented and realistic
- Equity structure agreed with vesting terms clear
- Decision authority framework accepted by both parties
- Communication protocols established and tested
Launch Preparedness
All prerequisites for development must be in place before implementation begins. This includes technical access, legal frameworks, and initial customer validation.
Validation Metrics
- Development environment accessible with all required tools
- Legal agreements executed (partnership, IP, confidentiality)
- Initial customer contacts identified for validation
- First sprint backlog defined with acceptance criteria
Failure Prevention Through Rigor
These success criteria exist because most AI projects fail not from technical limitations, but from inadequate problem definition and preparation. By enforcing rigorous standards before implementation begins, we dramatically increase the probability of building products that solve real problems and achieve market success. Each criterion has been refined through analysis of both successful partnerships and failed attempts, representing hard-won lessons about what actually matters for AI product success.
Downloadable Framework Resources
Access our complete methodology toolkit with templates, checklists, and frameworks used in real engagements. These resources provide immediate value and demonstrate the rigor of our approach.
Use Case Template
Comprehensive template for structuring AI use cases with all required sections, prompts, and examples. Includes problem statement framework, data requirement specifications, and success criteria definitions.
Partnership Agreement Framework
Standard partnership agreement template covering equity splits, vesting schedules, decision authority, IP ownership, and exit provisions. Includes commentary on key negotiation points.
Technical Validation Checklist
Detailed checklist for assessing technical feasibility of use cases. Covers architecture patterns, technology selection, performance requirements, security considerations, and resource estimation.
Stakeholder Interview Guide
Structured interview framework for domain discovery phase. Includes question templates, documentation formats, and analysis frameworks for extracting actionable insights from domain experts.
Ready to Structure Your Use Case?
Whether you're a developer seeking validated problems or a domain expert ready to monetize your expertise, our methodology provides the framework for successful AI product development.
Questions about the methodology? Contact us for detailed discussion.