amazon-working-backwards

SKILL.md

Guide ideas through Amazon's Working Backwards process, from 5 Questions to PR-FAQ.

Supports six entry points: drafting 5Q answers from a rough idea, refining existing answers, verifying answers with probing questions, generating a PR-FAQ document, reviewing an existing PR-FAQ, or clarifying any process element

The 5 Questions phase forces clarity on customer, problem, benefit, validation, and experience before any document writing

The PR-FAQ phase transforms solid 5Q answers into a press release and dual FAQ (external customer questions, internal stakeholder questions)

All substantive content writes directly to timestamped markdown files; feedback and iteration happen in chat

Amazon Working Backwards

The Working Backwards process moves from idea to PR-FAQ in two phases: first answer the 5 Questions to force clarity of thinking, then write a PR-FAQ document that brings the idea to life for readers.

Workflow

Determine the entry point based on what the user provides:

Starting from a rough idea or proposal? → Follow the "5 Questions Phase" below
Have 5Q answers to refine/verify? → Read references/five-questions-guide.md and apply the verification checklist
Ready to write a PR-FAQ? → Follow the "PR-FAQ Phase" below
Have a PR-FAQ to review? → Read references/prfaq-template.md and evaluate against the writing standards and common rejection reasons
Want to clarify a specific element? → Read the relevant reference file for that phase

Output Convention

Always write to a file from the start. Do not draft in chat.