Split a big epic into thin slices you can ship one by one

About this exercise

Your epic for gift cards is too big for one sprint. Split it into exactly 4 numbered thin slices, in the order you'd ship them, each written as 'Slice: what a customer can do after it ships', plain text, under 80 words. Each slice must be usable on its own, the first slice must be the smallest end-to-end path the team agreed on, and the parked items must not appear.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Asking to 'break this down'. The AI writes technical tasks (database, API, UI) instead of slices a customer can use. Try: Show it: "1. Customers can buy a $25/$50/$100 gift card, get it by email, and redeem it online."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each slice instead: "each slice under 18 words."
• Letting it pick the order. The AI starts with setup work or the flashiest feature, not the agreed first slice. Try: Add: "Slice 1 is the team's agreed thinnest path; slice 2 is front desk redemption."
• Including parked items. Parked items are listed with everything else, so the AI plans them too. Try: Add: "Leave out printed cards and corporate cards. Exactly 4 numbered slices, plain text."

What a strong prompt includes

• Asks for usable slices
• Sets the first slice
• Leaves parked items out
• Sets the number of slices
• Asks for plain text

Practice this now ↑

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