8.2 KiB
8.2 KiB
Common Epic Patterns
This reference provides universal and domain-specific epic patterns to accelerate epic identification. Use these patterns as starting points, adapting them to your specific product context.
Universal Epic Patterns
These patterns appear across most software products regardless of domain.
User Management & Identity
| Epic | Description |
|---|---|
| User Onboarding & Registration | Sign-up flows, account creation, initial setup |
| Authentication & Authorization | Login, SSO, MFA, session management |
| User Profile Management | Profile editing, preferences, settings |
| Role & Permission Management | Access control, role assignment, permissions |
Core User Experience
| Epic | Description |
|---|---|
| Search & Discovery | Finding content, filtering, navigation |
| Notifications & Alerts | In-app, email, push notifications |
| Help & Support | Documentation, tooltips, support tickets |
| Personalization | User preferences, customization, themes |
Data & Content
| Epic | Description |
|---|---|
| Data Import/Export | Bulk import, export formats, migrations |
| Content Creation & Editing | Create, edit, version content |
| Content Organization | Tags, folders, categories, hierarchies |
| File Management | Upload, storage, preview, download |
Collaboration & Social
| Epic | Description |
|---|---|
| Team/Organization Management | Teams, workspaces, organizations |
| Sharing & Permissions | Share content, access levels |
| Comments & Discussions | Threaded comments, mentions, reactions |
| Activity Feeds & History | Audit logs, activity streams, notifications |
Integration & Platform
| Epic | Description |
|---|---|
| Third-party Integrations | Connect external services |
| Public API | REST/GraphQL API for developers |
| Webhooks & Events | Event-driven integrations |
| Single Sign-On (SSO) | Enterprise identity providers |
Analytics & Reporting
| Epic | Description |
|---|---|
| Dashboards & Visualization | Charts, graphs, real-time displays |
| Report Generation | Scheduled reports, exports |
| Usage Analytics | User behavior, engagement metrics |
| Audit & Compliance | Audit trails, compliance reports |
Infrastructure
| Epic | Description |
|---|---|
| Performance & Scalability | Optimization, caching, load handling |
| Security & Compliance | Encryption, security audits, certifications |
| Data Migration | Legacy system migration, data transformation |
| Offline Support | Offline-first, sync, conflict resolution |
Domain-Specific Patterns
E-commerce / Marketplace
| Epic | Typical Scope |
|---|---|
| Product Catalog Management | Products, categories, inventory, pricing |
| Shopping Cart & Checkout | Cart, checkout flow, guest checkout |
| Payment Processing | Payment gateways, refunds, invoicing |
| Order Management | Order tracking, fulfillment, returns |
| Customer Accounts | Order history, saved addresses, wishlists |
| Marketing & Promotions | Discounts, coupons, campaigns |
| Seller/Vendor Management | Multi-vendor support, seller tools |
| Reviews & Ratings | Product reviews, seller ratings |
SaaS / B2B Platform
| Epic | Typical Scope |
|---|---|
| Subscription Management | Plans, billing, upgrades/downgrades |
| Multi-tenancy | Tenant isolation, tenant administration |
| Admin Console | System configuration, tenant management |
| Usage Metering & Billing | Usage tracking, invoicing, quotas |
| Onboarding & Activation | Trial setup, guided tours, activation |
| Customer Success Tools | Health scores, usage insights |
| White-labeling | Custom branding, domains |
| Enterprise Features | SSO, advanced security, SLAs |
Mobile Application
| Epic | Typical Scope |
|---|---|
| Mobile Authentication | Biometrics, device trust, secure storage |
| Offline Mode | Local storage, sync, conflict resolution |
| Push Notifications | Notification management, deep linking |
| Device Features | Camera, GPS, contacts integration |
| App Performance | Startup time, memory, battery optimization |
| App Store Presence | Listings, ratings, updates |
| Cross-platform Sync | State sync across devices |
| Accessibility | Screen readers, dynamic type, VoiceOver |
API / Developer Platform
| Epic | Typical Scope |
|---|---|
| API Design & Documentation | OpenAPI specs, interactive docs |
| Developer Portal | Registration, API keys, documentation |
| Authentication & Security | OAuth, API keys, rate limiting |
| SDKs & Client Libraries | Language-specific SDKs |
| Sandbox Environment | Test environment, mock data |
| Usage Analytics | API metrics, endpoint analytics |
| Versioning & Deprecation | Version management, migration guides |
| Developer Support | Forums, tickets, status page |
Content Management / Publishing
| Epic | Typical Scope |
|---|---|
| Content Authoring | Rich text editor, media embedding |
| Content Workflow | Draft, review, publish states |
| Media Library | Image/video management, optimization |
| Content Scheduling | Scheduled publishing, content calendar |
| Multi-language Support | Localization, translation management |
| SEO & Metadata | Meta tags, sitemaps, structured data |
| Content Distribution | RSS, social sharing, syndication |
| Templates & Layouts | Page templates, component library |
Healthcare / Clinical
| Epic | Typical Scope |
|---|---|
| Patient Management | Patient records, demographics |
| Clinical Documentation | Notes, orders, results |
| Appointment Scheduling | Calendar, booking, reminders |
| Medication Management | Prescriptions, drug interactions |
| Care Coordination | Referrals, care plans, handoffs |
| Compliance & Privacy | HIPAA, consent management, audit |
| Patient Portal | Patient access, messaging, records |
| Clinical Decision Support | Alerts, guidelines, protocols |
Financial Services / Fintech
| Epic | Typical Scope |
|---|---|
| Account Management | Accounts, balances, statements |
| Transaction Processing | Transfers, payments, scheduling |
| Identity Verification | KYC, document verification |
| Fraud Detection | Monitoring, alerts, investigation |
| Regulatory Compliance | Reporting, audits, regulations |
| Financial Reporting | Statements, tax documents |
| Notifications & Alerts | Transaction alerts, balance notifications |
| Secure Authentication | MFA, device binding, biometrics |
Using Patterns Effectively
Pattern Selection Process
- Identify your domain: Which domain-specific pattern set applies?
- Start with universals: Most products need user management, notifications, etc.
- Add domain patterns: Layer in domain-specific epics
- Customize names: Adapt generic names to your product's language
- Validate against vision: Ensure patterns align with your specific vision
Avoiding Pattern Pitfalls
- Don't force-fit: Not every pattern applies to every product
- Customize scope: Adjust epic scope to match your product size
- Combine when small: Merge related patterns if your product is simpler
- Split when large: Break patterns into multiple epics for complex products
- Validate value: Each epic should deliver user or business value
Pattern Adaptation Example
Generic Pattern: "User Onboarding & Registration"
| Product Type | Adapted Epic |
|---|---|
| Consumer app | "Social Sign-up & Profile Setup" |
| Enterprise SaaS | "Organization Provisioning & Admin Setup" |
| Developer tool | "Account & API Key Setup" |
| Healthcare | "Patient Registration & Consent" |
Quick Reference: Epic Starter Sets
Minimum Viable Product (5-7 epics)
- User Authentication
- Core Workflow (product-specific)
- Data Management
- Basic Notifications
- Settings & Profile
Standard Product (10-15 epics)
All MVP epics plus:
- Advanced User Management
- Search & Discovery
- Collaboration Features
- Analytics Dashboard
- Integrations
- Help & Support
Enterprise Product (15-25 epics)
All Standard epics plus:
- Multi-tenancy
- Advanced Security
- Compliance & Audit
- Admin Console
- SSO & Enterprise Auth
- Advanced Analytics
- API & Developer Tools