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Write a PRD problem section from interview notes

Practice: Keeping the AI to your sources. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

You're drafting the Problem section of a PRD for a shift-scheduling app, based on 5 customer interviews. You want exactly 3 numbered problem statements, each ending with how many of the 5 customers raised it (like '(4 of 5)'), under 90 words in total, plain text. It must describe problems only, not solutions, and must leave out your own idea and the secondhand sales claim, since neither came from a customer.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Asking for 'a PRD section'. The AI writes a long section with headings, background and sub-bullets. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 3 numbered problem statements. Plain text, no headings."
  • 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 statement instead: "each line under 20 words."
  • Leaving out the counts. The AI writes 'customers struggle with...' without saying how many, so the PRD can't show which problem is biggest. Try: Add: "End each line with how many of the 5 customers raised it, like (4 of 5)."
  • Jumping to solutions. AI loves to be helpful and slips features into a problem statement. Try: Add: "Problems only. No features or solutions."
  • Mixing in non-customer input. Your own idea and the sales claim sit right in the notes, and the AI treats them as findings. Try: Add: "Use only what customers said. Ignore 'My idea' and the note from sales."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Sets the number of problems
  • Asks for counts
  • Says problems, not solutions
  • Leaves out non-customer input
  • Sets a word limit

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