How do we define an Information Product Canvas at the Programme (Epic) vs Sprint (Delivery) Levels
Even for ad-hoc data requests, the Information Product Canvas is a valuable pattern template
How do we define an Information Product Canvas at the Programme (Epic) vs Sprint (Delivery) Levels
The Information Product Canvas can be used at both the Programme (epic) level and the Sprint (delivery iteration) level, but it is applied differently at each stage.
At the programme or epic level, the Information Product Canvas acts as a lightweight boundary and visioning template.
In this scenario it is not about populating every detail. Instead, you complete just enough of the canvas to describe the Programme Vision, the big What (the Business Question and Core Business Event domains), the big Why, (the Programme Outcomes), the big Who (the primary Personas), the Programme level Will / Won’t, and then the Vision statement.
The focus at this level is on the essentials. You define the Vision, the Business Questions, the broad Outcomes and Actions, the key Personas, and the Core Business Events. Other areas like Delivery Types, Feature Stories, or Data Sync details are left blank. The goal is to set a clear direction without having to define the detail up front.
Another option is to use the Information Product Canvas template to populate the proposed programme’s delivery roadmap.
In this scenario you define Information Products that are intentionally extra-large and are aimed to support larger, cross-squad initiatives. These canvases describe complex or wide-ranging information needs that cannot be delivered all at once. Over time, these extra-large canvases are refined and split into smaller, sharper Information Products that can be delivered incrementally.
At the Programme level, the Information Product Canvas is treated like an epic. It provides a rough map and an intended destination. It gives a clear sense of purpose without locking data teams into brittle upfront design. This approach avoids analysis paralysis at the start of a major programme of work. It keeps alignment high while leaving room for discovery and adaptation as the programme discovery and delivery steps progress.
While a Programme level Information Product Canvas gives the rough map and the destination. The Sprint level Information Product Canvas gives the detailed walking instructions to execute the next steps in the journey.
At the sprint level, the Information Product Canvas is focussed on defining clear delivery boundaries. The canvas should be specific, complete, and tightly scoped to a single Information Product or a meaningful thin slice of one.
The Sprint level Information Product Canvas defines a small, focused piece of work that can be delivered within a small number of sprints or delivery iterations. It must be defined enough that the data team can move quickly without confusion or delay.
At this level, all areas of the canvas should be completed. The Business Question should be precise. The Outcomes and Actions should be tangible. The Personas must be clearly identified. The Delivery Types, Core Business Events, Feature Stories, Will and Won’t scope boundaries, and Data Sync expectations should be identified.
The relationship between the two levels is simple. At the Programme level, you create a canvas with a larger and often vague boundary. At the Sprint level, you create a canvas with a small and well-defined boundary.
This multi-level approach supports a Programme based Information Value Stream.
You start with a set of rough, partially completed or extra-large Programme level Information Product Canvases, as part of the Programme Initiation stage. You then break them down over time into smaller, fully completed Sprint Information Product Canvas, as part of the Programme Delivery stage. Each Information Product is regularly checked back against the evolving Programme canvas to make sure you are still heading in the right direction.