Product Development Life Cycle

PDLC Explorer

A practical, cross-functional operating model to discover, design, build, launch, improve, and scale products.

8Phases

14Teams

112Responsibilities

12Frameworks

Complete readable reference · all stages and regions →

Original artwork · Interactive library

Original diagrams

Start with Simple Flow, or choose an original diagram. The 14 originals sit in four categories; nine explorer tools provide 16 interactive visualization concepts.

Start with Simple Flow →14 original diagrams · 4 categories

Lifecycle Overview

PDLC Circular Wheel with Inner Rings

Download original artwork Download selected diagram data Download diagram data (JSON)

SelectedDiscover

Eight stages surround the inner rings of inputs, PM actions and deliverables. Use arrow keys to move around the wheel, or choose a stage above. The lifecycle is iterative; scaling feeds new discovery.

Loading diagram…

Loading the diagram library…

Product Development Life Cycle

Discover, Define, Design, Build, Test, Launch, Measure and Scale. JavaScript enables the diagram controls. The complete reference remains available below.

Read the accessible PDLC reference

Download all diagram data (JSON)

Selected

Discover

Understand customer problems and identify a valuable opportunity.

Key question

What customer problem is worth solving?

PM actions

Interview customers and stakeholders
Synthesize evidence
Frame the opportunity
Validate problem assumptions

Deliverables (4)

Opportunity brief
Problem statement
Research findings
Initial success measures

Inputs

Customer feedback
Market analysis
Business objectives
Product usage data

Decision gate

Is the opportunity sufficiently validated?

Suggested measures

Problem frequency
Evidence quality
Addressable opportunity

PDLC Explorer

Original diagrams

PDLC Circular Wheel with Inner Rings

Phase, team and governance explorers

PDLC Wheel

Original diagrams

PDLC Circular Wheel with Inner Rings