How to Write an IPD Project Task Book: A Guide for Project and Product Managers

IPD (Integrated Product Development) stems from the PACE theory of the U.S. PRTM company; after IBM’s adoption it became a systematic engineering approach covering product‑development ideas, models, and tools.

The IPD workflow is explicitly divided into six stages—concept, planning, development, verification, release, and lifecycle—each featuring clear decision‑review points that assess market positioning and profitability rather than pure technical criteria.

These decision‑review points share consistent evaluation standards, and only when the required work is finished can a project advance to the next point.

Product‑development projects are the most common type of enterprise project. They demand a cross‑functional team that brings together multiple departments, with a project manager leading the effort to satisfy market needs from concept to delivery.

The project task book, not a feasibility study, typically includes nine key elements:

Measurable project objectives and associated success criteria

Overall project requirements

Concise project description

Major risks

Overall milestone schedule

Overall budget

Project approval requirements

Assigned project manager with responsibilities and authority

Name and authority of the sponsor or other approvers

When drafting the task book, the 4W2H thinking method can be applied to ensure comprehensive coverage, as illustrated in the accompanying diagram.