beta-program

name	beta-program
description	Design beta programs — participant selection, feedback collection, bug triage, success criteria, NDA management, and graduation criteria. TRIGGER when: user says /beta-program or asks about running a beta test.
argument-hint	[feature or product to beta test]
user-invocable	true

Beta Program Design

Process

Step 1: Define Beta Scope

Element	Details
Feature/product	What's being tested
Beta type	Closed (invite) / Open / Public preview
Duration	Typical 2-6 weeks
Participants	Target count (10-50 for closed, more for open)
Goals	What you want to learn

Step 2: Select Participants

Criteria	Priority
Represents target persona	Must
Active product user	Should
Willing to provide feedback	Must
Diverse use cases	Should
Technical sophistication matches product	Should

Step 3: Set Up Feedback Collection

Channel	Purpose	Cadence
In-app feedback	Bug reports, feature requests	Continuous
Survey	Structured assessment	Weekly or end-of-beta
Interview	Deep qualitative insight	5-8 participants
Usage analytics	Behavioral data	Continuous
Community/forum	Peer discussion	Continuous

Step 4: Manage Bug Triage

Severity	Response	Action
Blocker	4 hours	Hotfix or workaround
Critical	24 hours	Fix in next beta build
Major	48 hours	Fix before GA
Minor	1 week	Backlog for GA or post-GA

Step 5: Define Graduation Criteria

Criterion	Threshold
No blocker/critical bugs	0 open
User satisfaction	NPS > X or CSAT > X/5
Core workflow completion	> 90% can complete key tasks
Performance	Meets SLA targets
Documentation	Complete and reviewed

Step 6: Transition to GA

• Thank beta participants (recognition, early access, swag)
• Communicate changes made based on feedback
• Archive beta feedback for future reference
• Update documentation with beta learnings

Output Format

## Beta Program: [Feature]
### Scope: [What, duration, participant count]
### Selection: [Criteria and recruitment plan]
### Feedback: [Collection methods]
### Graduation: [Criteria for GA readiness]

Quality Checklist

• Beta goals clearly defined
• Participant selection criteria documented
• Feedback channels set up before launch
• Bug triage process established
• Graduation criteria are specific and measurable

Edge Cases

• For enterprise beta, involve customer success in recruitment
• If beta reveals major issues, plan for extended beta
• For public beta, prepare for support volume