Project Decomposition Template

This template provides a structured workflow for decomposing software projects using an AI assistant (like Cursor IDE's chat). It guides Project Managers (PMs) through a phased approach to break down complex projects into manageable components, features, and sub-features, outputting to a document ready for effort estimation.

Prerequisites

• Cursor IDE (or another AI-powered IDE/chat interface) installed.

Setup

1. Clone or Download: Clone this repository or download it as a ZIP and extract it.
2. Navigate: Open this (decomply, right?) directory or project in your terminal or IDE.
3. Input Materials: Place all your project-specific input documents (e.g., client transcripts, requirements documents, design mockups) into the input_materials/ folder.
4. Prepare Output File: You can either create an empty docs/project_decomposition.md file now, or create it as you start pasting content from the AI. The structure of this file is exemplified in docs/template_output_structure.md.

Workflow with AI Assistant (e.g., Cursor IDE Chat)

1. Initiate with AI:

   • Open your AI assistant's chat interface.
   • Copy the entire content of PROMPT.md from this template.
   • Paste the copied prompt into the AI chat.
   • Immediately after pasting the prompt, add the following instruction to the AI:

     Let's begin the project decomposition process based on the prompt I just provided.
     My project input materials (transcripts, documents, etc.) are located in the 'input_materials/' folder in this project. Please refer to them as needed by using the '@' symbol to reference files (e.g., @input_materials/client_transcript.txt).
     Start with Phase 0: Project Information Gathering. Ask me what you need.
     

2. Interactive Decomposition (Phases 0 - 3):

   • The AI will now follow the instructions from PROMPT.md. It will:
     • Ask for clarification on your input materials (Phase 0).
     • Propose the number of decomposition levels (1-3) and await your approval (Phase 0.5).
     • Generate Markdown tables for each agreed-upon decomposition level (Phase 1, and optionally Phase 2 and 3), adhering to the specified column structure which includes Module Name, Feature, Sub-Feature, Description, and empty Estimate columns.
   • For each phase where the AI generates a Markdown table:
     • Review the table carefully in the chat.
     • Provide feedback or request modifications directly to the AI. Iterate until you are satisfied.
     • Once approved, copy the final approved Markdown table for that phase from the chat.
     • Paste this table into your docs/project_decomposition.md file. It's recommended to append each new table below the previous one, or integrate them if the AI generates a consolidated table per level. Use Markdown headings to clearly separate the levels if needed (e.g., ## Decomposition Level 1 Output).

3. Finalizing the Document:

   • Once all agreed-upon decomposition levels are complete and their respective tables are copied into docs/project_decomposition.md, your structured project decomposition document is ready. The Estimate (Min hours) and Estimate (Max hours) columns will be empty, ready for the development team to fill in.

Tips for Interacting with the AI

• Be Explicit: Clearly state your approvals (e.g., "The Level 1 table is approved, proceed.") or your requests for changes.
• Reference Materials: Remind the AI to use the @ symbol to access files in your input_materials/ folder if it seems to forget.
• Iterate: Don't hesitate to ask the AI to refine its suggestions or tables until they meet your needs.
• Context: If the conversation gets very long, the AI might lose some context. You can gently remind it of previous decisions or key aspects of the project.