Launch Checklist

A launch checklist is a comprehensive verification document that ensures all functions are ready before releasing a feature or product. It coordinates across engineering, QA, design, marketing, support, legal, and operations to prevent launch-day surprises. Good launch checklists surface blockers early and create shared accountability for launch readiness.

When to Use

• 1-2 weeks before any significant launch
• During launch planning kickoff meetings
• When coordinating cross-functional releases
• Before major version releases or feature rollouts
• After incidents to improve launch processes

Instructions

When asked to create a launch checklist, follow these steps:

1. Define Launch Context Document what is launching, when, and who the key stakeholders are. Establish the launch tier (major release, minor feature, experiment) as this affects checklist scope.