/value-prop

Use this when

You need to tell someone why the thing you are shipping is worth their attention. The audience shapes the size — a peer scanning Slack needs flash; a PM needs tweet; a canvas reader needs brief; a stakeholder deck needs verbose.

Skip this when

You are documenting internal mechanics. Value props aim at readers who could decide to spend attention or budget. For internal detail, use /state-a-problem or /spec instead.

Four sizes

flash (≤180 chars) — one sharp claim + one sharpener. Fits in a Slack message or a chat first-line.

tweet (≤280 chars) — claim + sharpener + optional "so what". Fits at the top of a PR body or issue.

brief (paragraph) — claim + three reasons it matters. Fits in a canvas or a stakeholder update.

verbose — full Dunford / Moore positioning statement. Fits in strategy docs, board materials, funding decks.

/value-prop flash          # ≤180 chars
/value-prop tweet          # ≤280 chars
/value-prop brief          # paragraph
/value-prop verbose        # positioning statement

What flash does

Reads the current scope (ticket, PR, goal doc, or the paragraph you supply). Returns one sentence:

<claim> — <sharpener>

Example: "Ship features with Claude Code that hold up in code review — small commands that run a checklist so the code goes through the same review your team would apply."

What tweet does

Same as flash plus a "so what" phrase:

<claim> — <sharpener>. <so-what>.

Example: "Turn one mock into a buildable plan — spec, INVEST stories, and a migration plan in 5 minutes. So you review before you build, not after."

What brief does

Full paragraph. Claim first, then three reasons:

Claim. <one sentence>

Why it matters.

1. <reason> — <one-line elaboration>
2. <reason> — <one-line elaboration>
3. <reason> — <one-line elaboration>

Reasons are ordered — best first. Reader can stop after one and still have the gist.

What verbose does

Full Dunford / Moore positioning statement:

For <target customer> who <statement of need>, our <product> is <category> that <key benefit>. Unlike <primary alternative>, we <primary differentiation>.

The five slots force explicit trade-off. Runs about 6-8 sentences when rendered as prose.

Composes with

• /state-a-problem pairs with /value-prop tweet in PR bodies
• /lean-canvas uses /value-prop brief per persona in §5
• /kiss words runs against the output claim (default on)

When flash is not enough

Flash-only value props leave the reader wanting the "so what". If your reader can act on flash alone, ship flash. If they need to justify the attention to a third party, ship tweet or brief.

Where next

• /kiss — check the words after the shape
• /state-a-problem — the pair for Problem sections
• /lean-canvas — 9-box business model