Graph Structure
Every entity type that progresses through phases has a lifecycle. Lifecycles define valid phase transitions, terminal states, and the initial phase for new entities. Types without a meaningful progression (like persona or metric) are deliberately lifecycle-free.
The root lifecycle. Every product entity starts here. 9 phases covering the full arc from concept to sunset. Terminal phase: sunset.
Phase detail
conceptNapkin idea. Problem shape and solution sketch, pre-validation.
validationbuildbetalaunchgrowthmaturesunsetvalidationTesting demand. User conversations and experiments pressure-test assumptions before build commits.
buildbetalaunchgrowthmaturesunsetbuildActively developing v1. Core functionality is being authored, pre-user.
betalaunchgrowthmaturesunsetbetaEarly users, iterating. Feature-complete enough to learn from, still changing weekly.
launchgrowthmaturemaintenancesunsetlaunchGenerally available. Announced to the target audience, open past beta access.
growthmaturemaintenancesunsetgrowthScaling users and revenue. Product fit validated; focus is acquisition, retention, expansion.
maturemaintenancesunsetmatureStable. Growth levelled; investment weights toward optimisation, efficiency, and durability.
maintenancesunsetmaintenanceSustaining. Minimal investment keeps the product running for existing users. Can transition back to `mature` on a strategic revival.
maturesunsetsunsetWinding down or retired. Existing users are being migrated or offboarded.
8 lifecycle templates shared across entity types. Template-derived lifecycles are structurally identical; only the entity type differs.
PUBLISHING37 entity typesContent moves from draft through review to published, then archived.
OPERATIONAL32 entity typesProgrammes and initiatives: planning → active → paused → completed or sunset.
APPROVAL10 entity typesGovernance artefacts: proposed → reviewing → approved/rejected → deprecated.
WORK_ITEM8 entity typesTasks and deliverables: to do → in progress → in review → done.
DISCOVERY1 entity typeOpen questions: open → exploring → resolved or parked.
MATURITY12 entity typesTechnical artefacts maturing from alpha → beta → GA → deprecated.
RISK_ITEM3 entity typesRisks: identified → assessed → mitigated / accepted / closed.
SALES_DEAL1 entity typeDeals: qualified → proposal → negotiation → closed won / closed lost.
83 entity types with bespoke lifecycles, each authored individually to capture domain-specific phase semantics that no template covers.
125 entity types are intentionally lifecycle-free: static descriptors. A persona does not progress through phases; a metric does not have a terminal state. The UPG_LIFECYCLE_FREE_TYPES set is the canonical source of truth.
Graph Structure
Every entity type that progresses through phases has a lifecycle. Lifecycles define valid phase transitions, terminal states, and the initial phase for new entities. Types without a meaningful progression (like persona or metric) are deliberately lifecycle-free.
The root lifecycle. Every product entity starts here. 9 phases covering the full arc from concept to sunset. Terminal phase: sunset.
Phase detail
conceptNapkin idea. Problem shape and solution sketch, pre-validation.
validationbuildbetalaunchgrowthmaturesunsetvalidationTesting demand. User conversations and experiments pressure-test assumptions before build commits.
buildbetalaunchgrowthmaturesunsetbuildActively developing v1. Core functionality is being authored, pre-user.
betalaunchgrowthmaturesunsetbetaEarly users, iterating. Feature-complete enough to learn from, still changing weekly.
launchgrowthmaturemaintenancesunsetlaunchGenerally available. Announced to the target audience, open past beta access.
growthmaturemaintenancesunsetgrowthScaling users and revenue. Product fit validated; focus is acquisition, retention, expansion.
maturemaintenancesunsetmatureStable. Growth levelled; investment weights toward optimisation, efficiency, and durability.
maintenancesunsetmaintenanceSustaining. Minimal investment keeps the product running for existing users. Can transition back to `mature` on a strategic revival.
maturesunsetsunsetWinding down or retired. Existing users are being migrated or offboarded.
8 lifecycle templates shared across entity types. Template-derived lifecycles are structurally identical; only the entity type differs.
PUBLISHING37 entity typesContent moves from draft through review to published, then archived.
OPERATIONAL32 entity typesProgrammes and initiatives: planning → active → paused → completed or sunset.
APPROVAL10 entity typesGovernance artefacts: proposed → reviewing → approved/rejected → deprecated.
WORK_ITEM8 entity typesTasks and deliverables: to do → in progress → in review → done.
DISCOVERY1 entity typeOpen questions: open → exploring → resolved or parked.
MATURITY12 entity typesTechnical artefacts maturing from alpha → beta → GA → deprecated.
RISK_ITEM3 entity typesRisks: identified → assessed → mitigated / accepted / closed.
SALES_DEAL1 entity typeDeals: qualified → proposal → negotiation → closed won / closed lost.
83 entity types with bespoke lifecycles, each authored individually to capture domain-specific phase semantics that no template covers.
125 entity types are intentionally lifecycle-free: static descriptors. A persona does not progress through phases; a metric does not have a terminal state. The UPG_LIFECYCLE_FREE_TYPES set is the canonical source of truth.