alumni_lookup

Alumni Network — Jobs to be Done (JTBD)

Canonical sources: Portal philosophy, posture, and language live in /docs/planning/champion-portal/source/README.md.
Use these sources (including CHRIST_CENTERED__IDENTITY_STATEMENT.md) when writing specs or user-facing copy. Prefer quoting/paraphrasing over inventing new language.

Version: 5.0
Last Updated: April 2026
Audience: Marketing, Product, Executive Leadership, Engineering
Status: Beta Launch Ready — All 17 phases complete (Phase 9.6 email drip deferred to Backlog)

Purpose: This document guides feature prioritization and marketing messaging based on user motivations. Organized around the three-tier engagement model — Alumni Members, Alumni Champions, and Community Leaders. Review quarterly and update as we learn from real usage.

Table of Contents

  1. What is Jobs to be Done?
  2. Three-Tier Context
  3. Alumni Jobs to be Done (All Tiers)
  4. Community Leader Jobs to be Done
  5. Engagement Team Jobs to be Done
  6. Job Priority Matrix
  7. Mapping Jobs to Features & Phases
  8. Marketing Messaging by Job
  9. Competitive Alternatives
  10. Success Metrics by Job
  11. Strategic Recommendations

1. What is Jobs to be Done?

The Jobs to be Done (JTBD) framework focuses on what people are trying to accomplish, not just what features they want. When someone “hires” a product, they’re hiring it to do a job for them.

The JTBD Statement Format

When [situation], I want to [motivation], so I can [expected outcome].

This framework helps us:

Why This Matters for the Alumni Network

Alumni don’t wake up thinking “I want a web portal.” They think:

The Alumni Network succeeds when it helps alumni accomplish these jobs better than their current alternatives (Facebook groups, email chains, LinkedIn, doing nothing).

2. Three-Tier Context

Jobs are organized around the three-tier engagement model. Each tier inherits the jobs of the tier before it and adds new motivations:

Tier Who Posture Primary Motivation
Tier 1: Alumni Member Everyone who signs up (100%) “You belong here” Discover, consume, connect
Tier 2: Alumni Champion Opted in via role quiz (~10%) “You’re already showing up” Contribute, mentor, lead by example
Tier 3: Community Leader Staff-promoted (~1%) “You’re the boots on the ground” Coordinate, moderate, bridge to staff

Key principle: Tier 1 jobs matter most — they affect 100% of users. The platform must deliver value at Tier 1 before expecting anyone to progress to Tier 2.

3. Alumni Jobs to be Done (All Tiers)

Core Functional Jobs

Job C1: Find My Tribe

When I move to a new city or want to expand my Belmont network, I want to find other alumni nearby, so I can build meaningful local connections.

Attribute Value
Tier 1 (Member)
Importance 🔥 Critical
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Directory, search, filters, “Champions Like You” recommendations
Phase ✅ Phase 1 (Complete)

Marketing Angle: “Find your Bruins. Wherever you land.”

Job C2: Be Found by Others

When I want to be available to fellow Bruins, I want to have a visible profile with the right information, so I can be discovered by alumni who could benefit from connecting with me.

Attribute Value
Tier 1 (Member)
Importance 🔥 Critical
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Profile management, privacy controls, profile completion tracking
Phase ✅ Phase 1 (Complete)

Marketing Angle: “Make it easy for your people to find you.”

Job C3: Share Good News

When I have a story worth celebrating (promotion, publication, award, life milestone), I want to share it with my alumni community, so I can inspire others and stay visible.

Attribute Value
Tier 1 (Member) — anyone can submit
Importance 🔶 High
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Content submission forms, staff review queue, attribution on published content
Phase ✅ Phase 14 (Complete)

Marketing Angle: “Celebrate wins with people who get it.”

Job C4: Host or Find a Gathering

When I want to bring alumni together (or attend a gathering someone else organized), I want to easily organize, discover, or promote an event, so I can create connection without bureaucratic friction.

Attribute Value
Tier 1 (discover/attend), 2 (submit events)
Importance 🔶 High
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Event calendar, event submission (Phase 14), district/community targeting, photo galleries
Phase ✅ Phase 1 (admin events), Phase 14 (alumni submissions)

Marketing Angle: “Find events near you — or host your own in minutes.”

Job C5: Stay in the Loop

When I’m busy with life but want to stay connected to Belmont, I want to see what’s happening without active effort, so I can feel part of the community even when I’m not contributing.

Attribute Value
Tier 1 (Member)
Importance 🔶 High
Current Satisfaction ✅ Delivered
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Dashboard, discussion boards, news posts, notifications, email digests, activity feed
Phase ✅ Phase 1 (Dashboard), Phase 3 (Boards), Phase 8 (Notifications), Phase 13 (Activity Feed)

Marketing Angle: “Your Belmont feed. No algorithms. Just community.”

Job C6: Connect Directly with Someone

When I find an alum with shared interests or expertise, I want to reach out to them directly, so I can start a conversation without sharing my personal contact info publicly.

Attribute Value
Tier 1 (Member)
Importance 🔶 High
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Connection requests (Say Hi, Career Advice, Networking), connection-gated messaging, connection settings
Phase ✅ Phase 10 (Complete)

Marketing Angle: “Say hello without giving away your inbox.”

Job C7: Explore Career Resources

When I’m job hunting, planning a career change, or want to sharpen my skills, I want to access career guidance and resources from my university, so I can leverage my Belmont connection for career growth.

Attribute Value
Tier 1 (Member) — publicly accessible, no login required
Importance 🔶 High
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Career Center page, downloadable resources, career events, OCPD partnership, Handshake/LinkedIn links
Phase ✅ Phase 7 (Complete)

Marketing Angle: “Your career toolkit — powered by your Belmont network.”

Job C8: Explore Beyond My City

When I’m traveling or curious about alumni in another city, I want to see what’s happening there, so I can attend events or meet people when I visit.

Attribute Value
Tier 1 (Member)
Importance 🟢 Medium
Current Satisfaction ✅ Partially Addressed
Opportunity Score 🟢 Low (directory filters work; dedicated travel mode deferred)
Features That Address This Directory with district filter, community browsing, join any community
Phase ✅ Phase 1 (filters), deferred: dedicated “visit mode”

Marketing Angle: “Bruins are everywhere. Find them.”

Job C9: Give Back Without the Hassle

When I want to support Belmont or fellow alumni, I want to find simple ways to contribute (donate, mentor, volunteer), so I can make an impact without navigating bureaucracy.

Attribute Value
Tier 2 (Champion) — but giving links available to all
Importance 🟢 Medium
Current Satisfaction ⚠️ Partially addressed
Opportunity Score 🟢 Low-Medium (giving links exist; mentorship program deferred)
Features That Address This Connection types (Career Advice), external giving links, Champion Role coaching
Phase ✅ Phase 10 (Career Advice connections), Phase 11 (Role coaching)

Marketing Angle: “One place to give, mentor, and volunteer.”

Emotional Jobs

Beyond functional tasks, alumni have emotional needs:

Job C10: Feel Like I Belong

When I’m far from Nashville or years past graduation, I want to feel part of something bigger, so I can maintain my Belmont identity as part of who I am.

Attribute Value
Tier 1 (Member) — this is THE foundational job
Importance 🔥 Critical
Current Satisfaction ✅ Delivered
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Entire portal experience, communities, discussions, welcome content, alumni-first language, progressive disclosure
Phase ✅ All Phases, including Phase 13 (Progressive disclosure based on engagement tier)

Marketing Angle: “Once a Bruin, always a Bruin. Now with a home base.”

Job C11: Feel Recognized for Contributing

When I put effort into being active in the community, I want to see that my contributions matter, so I can feel valued and motivated to continue.

Attribute Value
Tier 2 (Champion)
Importance 🔶 High
Current Satisfaction ✅ Delivered
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Champion badge, role card with daily ideas, attribution on published content, profile visibility, tier-aware recognition
Phase ✅ Phase 11 (Role Card), Phase 13 (Tier-aware recognition), Phase 14 (Attribution)

Marketing Angle: “Every event you host, every connection you make — it counts.”

Job C12: Discover How I Can Go Deeper

When I’ve been browsing and connecting for a while, I want to understand how I can contribute more meaningfully, so I can go from consumer to contributor without feeling overwhelmed.

Attribute Value
Tier 1 → 2 transition
Importance 🔶 High
Current Satisfaction ✅ Delivered
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Champion Role quiz, roles landing page, post-action nudges, progressive dashboard, nudge engine
Phase ✅ Phase 1C (Quiz), Phase 11 (Role Card), Phase 13 (Nudge engine, progressive disclosure)

Marketing Angle: “You’re already showing up like a Champion. Why not make it official?”

Job C13: Get Daily Engagement Ideas

When I want to be more active but don’t know where to start, I want to receive personalized suggestions for how to contribute, so I can take action aligned with my natural strengths.

Attribute Value
Tier 2 (Champion)
Importance 🔶 High
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Champion Role Card, daily idea packs (3/day), role-aligned coaching, 115 seed ideas
Phase ✅ Phase 11 (Complete)

Marketing Angle: “Your daily Champion playbook — three ideas tailored to your role.”

4. Community Leader Jobs to be Done

Community Leaders have unique coordination responsibilities as Tier 3 alumni:

Job L1: Know My Community’s Members

When I’m leading a community, I want to see who’s active and who’s new, so I can coordinate effectively and welcome newcomers.

Attribute Value
Importance 🔥 Critical
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Community landing pages, member lists, community membership management
Phase ✅ Phase 1 (Directory), Phase 2 (CL assignment)

Marketing Angle: “Your community at a glance. Who’s in, who’s active, what’s happening.”

Job L2: Communicate with My Community

When I have news or announcements for my community, I want to reach everyone at once, so I can keep members informed without individual emails.

Attribute Value
Importance 🔶 High
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Community discussion boards, pinned announcements, community news posts
Phase ✅ Phase 3 (Complete)

Marketing Angle: “One post reaches your whole community. Instantly.”

Job L3: Keep Discussions On-Track

When discussions go off-topic or problematic content appears, I want to moderate effectively, so I can maintain a welcoming community.

Attribute Value
Importance 🔶 High
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Moderation tools (hide/lock/pin), reporting, block functionality, staff escalation
Phase ✅ Phase 3 (Complete)

Marketing Angle: “Your community, your standards.”

Job L4: Review Community Content

When alumni submit news or events to my community, I want to see what’s been submitted and published, so I can stay informed about community activity.

Attribute Value
Importance 🟢 Medium
Current Satisfaction ✅ Partially Addressed
Opportunity Score 🟢 Low (staff handles review currently; CL involvement planned)
Features That Address This Content submission review queue (staff-managed), community news/events feeds
Phase ✅ Phase 14 (staff review). Deferred: CL review permissions

Marketing Angle: “See what your community is sharing.”

5. Engagement Team Jobs to be Done

Staff supporting the alumni engagement program have operational needs:

Job E1: Verify Alumni Quickly

When someone signs up, I want to match them to their alumni record fast, so I can give them access and keep onboarding momentum.

Attribute Value
Importance 🔥 Critical
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Verification queue, BUID search, one-click link, nickname-aware lookup
Phase ✅ Phase 1 (Complete)

Marketing Angle (Internal): “Verify an alum in 2 minutes, not 15.”

Job E2: See the Big Picture

When I’m reporting to leadership or planning strategy, I want to see alumni activity metrics at a glance, so I can demonstrate value and identify opportunities.

Attribute Value
Importance 🔥 Critical
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered (activity metrics, CSV exports; community health/PDF reports in Backlog)
Features That Address This Activity dashboard, onboarding metrics, connection analytics, discussion analytics
Phase ✅ Phase 1 (foundation), ✅ Phase 6 (activity metrics & CSV exports delivered; 6.2/6.3 in Backlog)

Marketing Angle (Internal): “Real numbers, real insights, no spreadsheets.”

Job E3: Keep CRM in Sync

When alumni update their profiles, I want to export changes to our CRM, so I can maintain data integrity across systems.

Attribute Value
Importance 🔥 Critical
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This CRM export, unified change log (crm_data_changes), batch download
Phase ✅ Phase 1 (Complete)

Marketing Angle (Internal): “Profile changes flow to BruinQuest. On demand.”

Job E4: Reduce Repetitive Work

When I’m spending time on routine admin tasks, I want to automate or delegate where possible, so I can focus on relationship building.

Attribute Value
Importance 🔥 Critical
Current Satisfaction ✅ Mostly Addressed
Opportunity Score 🟢 Low (self-service profiles, community management, CL delegation all delivered)
Features That Address This Self-service profiles, CL delegation, content submission review, automated notifications/digests
Phase ✅ Across all phases

Marketing Angle (Internal): “Let alumni help themselves. You focus on strategy.”

Job E5: Review Alumni-Submitted Content

When alumni submit news stories or event ideas, I want to review, approve, or decline them efficiently, so I can maintain content quality while encouraging alumni participation.

Attribute Value
Importance 🔶 High
Current Satisfaction ✅ Addressed
Opportunity Score ✅ Delivered
Features That Address This Content submission queue, promote-to-draft, publish, decline with reason, conversation threads
Phase ✅ Phase 14 (Complete)

Marketing Angle (Internal): “Review and publish alumni stories in minutes.”

6. Job Priority Matrix

High Opportunity Jobs (Foundation — Delivered)

These were the highest-priority jobs. All have been addressed:

Job ID Job Tier Status
C1 Find My Tribe 1 ✅ Phase 1
C2 Be Found by Others 1 ✅ Phase 1
C10 Feel Like I Belong 1 ✅ All Phases
E1 Verify Alumni Quickly Staff ✅ Phase 1
L1 Know My Community’s Members 3 ✅ Phase 1–2
C5 Stay in the Loop 1 ✅ Phase 1, 3, 8
C6 Connect Directly 1 ✅ Phase 10
E2 See the Big Picture Staff ✅ Phase 1, Phase 6 (activity metrics; 6.2/6.3 in Backlog)
E3 Keep CRM in Sync Staff ✅ Phase 1
E4 Reduce Repetitive Work Staff ✅ All Phases

Medium Opportunity Jobs (Deepening — Delivered or In Progress)

Job ID Job Tier Status
C3 Share Good News 1 ✅ Phase 14
C4 Host or Find a Gathering 1–2 ✅ Phase 1, 14
C7 Explore Career Resources 1 ✅ Phase 7
C11 Feel Recognized 2 ✅ Phase 11, 13, 14
C12 Discover How to Go Deeper 1→2 ✅ Phase 1C, 11, 13
C13 Get Daily Engagement Ideas 2 ✅ Phase 11
L2 Communicate with Community 3 ✅ Phase 3
L3 Keep Discussions On-Track 3 ✅ Phase 3
E5 Review Submitted Content Staff ✅ Phase 14

Remaining Opportunity (Backlog)

Job ID Job Tier What’s Remaining
C8 Explore Beyond My City 1 Dedicated travel/visit mode (Backlog)
C9 Give Back 2 Mentorship program (Backlog)
E2 See the Big Picture Staff Community health metrics, PDF reports (Backlog — Phase 6.2/6.3)

7. Mapping Jobs to Features & Phases

✅ Phase 1: Foundations (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: C1, C2, C4, C5, C6, C8, C10, L1, E1, E3, E4

Phase 1 delivered 16 sub-phases addressing the highest-opportunity jobs:

Key Feature Primary Jobs
Authentication (Google SSO, email/password) C10, E1
Profile Wizard C2, C11
Alumni Directory (search, filters, recommendations) C1, C8, L1
Dashboard C5, C10
Verification Queue E1
CRM Export E3, E4
In-App Messaging C6
Events (admin-created) C4
Community News Posts C5, L2
Communities (7 types) C10, L1
Settings & Help E4

Strategic Value: Phase 1 delivered the directory + messaging combination that addresses the top opportunity jobs.

✅ Phase 1C: Role Selection & Quiz (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: C12

Key Feature Primary Jobs
Champion Role discovery quiz C12
Profile wizard integration C2, C12

✅ Phase 2: Community Leadership (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: L1, E4

Key Feature Primary Jobs
CL Assignment interface L1
Permission system E4
Action Items notifications E4

✅ Phase 3: Discussion Boards (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: C5, L2, L3

Key Feature Primary Jobs
Per-community boards C5, L2
National board C5
Moderation tools L3
Seeded engagement questions C5

✅ Phase 4: Mobile-First Cleanup (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: C10

Key Feature Primary Jobs
Mobile consistency and design alignment C10
UX polish across all views C10

✅ Phase 5: Pre-MVP Updates (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: C1, C8

Key Feature Primary Jobs
User state alignment (almost_alumni, faculty_staff) —
Contacts → Connections rename C6
“Champions Like You” recommendations C1
Photo Albums C10

✅ Phase 6: Reporting & Insights (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: E2

Key Feature Primary Jobs Status
Activity metrics & CSV export E2 ✅ Complete
Community health metrics E2 📋 Backlog
PDF reports E2 📋 Backlog

✅ Phase 7: Career Center (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: C7

Key Feature Primary Jobs
Public career hub C7
Downloadable resources C7
Career events C4, C7
OCPD partnership section C7

✅ Phase 8: Notifications & Digests (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: C5

Key Feature Primary Jobs
In-app notifications C5
Daily/weekly email digests C5
Per-type preferences C5, C10

🔶 Phase 9: Onboarding & UX (In Progress)

Jobs Addressed: C10, C12

Key Feature Primary Jobs Status
Enhanced wizard C2, C10 ✅ Complete
Seeded questions admin C5 ✅ Complete
Onboarding metrics E2 ✅ Complete
Welcome content C10 ✅ Complete
Trust-first access C10 ✅ Complete
Email drip campaign C5, C12 ❌ Remaining

✅ Phase 10: Connections (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: C6

Key Feature Primary Jobs
Connection requests (3 types) C6
Connection-gated messaging C6
Connection settings & caps C6
Admin connection metrics E2

✅ Phase 11: Champion Role Dashboard Card (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: C11, C12, C13

Key Feature Primary Jobs
Daily idea packs (3/day) C13
Roles landing page C12
Admin CRUD for role ideas E4
115 seed ideas C13

✅ Phase 12: Source-Alignment Review (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: C10

Key Feature Primary Jobs
Full audit of user-facing text against 20 source docs C10
Alumni-first inclusive framing C10

✅ Phase 13: Progressive Dashboard & Engagement Tiers (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: C5, C10, C11, C12

This phase addressed the largest remaining JTBD opportunity at the time. What was delivered:

Key Feature Primary Jobs JTBD Impact
Journey engine (8 stages) C12 Determines where each alum is in their journey
Progressive disclosure C10 New users see 3–4 sections, not 13+
Activity feed C5 Combined discussions/news/photos feed
Tier-aware content C10, C11 Members see discovery; Champions see coaching; CLs see health
Champion nudge engine C12 After Champion-like actions, gentle nudges to opt in
Freshness signals C5 Content surfaced by recency, engagement, and relevance

✅ Phase 14: Alumni Content Submissions (Complete)

Jobs Addressed: C3, C4, E5

Key Feature Primary Jobs
News submission forms C3
Event submission forms C4
Staff review queue E5
Conversation threads E5
“Submitted by” attribution C3, C11

8. Marketing Messaging by Job

For Alumni Recruitment (Tier 1 — Lead With These)

Job Headline Supporting Message
C1 “Find your Bruins. Wherever you land.” Move to a new city? We’ll show you who’s already there.
C2 “Make it easy for your people to find you.” Create a profile and let fellow Bruins discover you.
C10 “Once a Bruin, always a Bruin.” Your home base — no matter how far you roam.
C5 “Stay connected without the effort.” See what’s happening in your community without digging through emails.
C7 “Your career toolkit, powered by your network.” Access resume resources, career events, and Bruin connections.

For Champion Opt-In (Tier 1 → 2 Transition)

Job Headline Supporting Message
C12 “You’re already showing up. Now make it official.” Take a 2-minute quiz. Discover your Champion role. Get personalized ideas.
C13 “Three ideas. Every day. Just for you.” Your daily Champion playbook — tailored to how you naturally help others.
C11 “Every contribution counts.” Host events, share stories, connect with alumni — and be recognized for it.

For Community Leaders (Tier 3)

Job Headline Supporting Message
L1 “Your community at a glance.” See who’s in, who’s active, what’s happening.
L2 “One post reaches your whole community.” Announcements, updates, celebrations — instantly delivered.
L3 “Your community, your standards.” Moderation tools that let you keep things welcoming.

For Internal Stakeholders (Engagement Team)

Job Headline Supporting Message
E1 “Verify an alum in 2 minutes.” Streamlined workflow means faster onboarding.
E2 “Real numbers, real insights.” Dashboards show exactly what’s happening across the network.
E5 “Review and publish alumni stories in minutes.” Content submissions flow through a clean approval queue.
E4 “Let alumni help themselves.” Self-service means less admin, more relationship building.

Tagline Options

9. Competitive Alternatives

Understanding what alumni use today helps position the portal:

Alternative What It Does Well What It Lacks
Facebook Groups Familiar, easy conversation No directory, no structure, no data ownership, algorithm-driven
LinkedIn Professional networking No Belmont identity, no community coordination, no event workflow
Email Lists Reliable delivery One-way, no community, no self-service, no profiles
Doing Nothing No effort required Complete isolation, no community benefit

Positioning Statement

“The Alumni Network is the only place built specifically for Belmont alumni. Unlike Facebook (algorithm-driven, mixed audiences) or LinkedIn (no Belmont identity), it gives you a dedicated home to find fellow Bruins, join communities, submit events, and stay connected — all with your data staying with Belmont, not a tech company.”

10. Success Metrics by Job

Job C1: Find My Tribe

| Metric | Target | Measurement | |——–|——–|————-| | Directory searches per active user | 2+ per month | Analytics | | Alumni who view 5+ profiles | 50% in first month | Analytics | | “I found alumni I didn’t know about” | 70% agree | Survey |

Job C6: Connect Directly

| Metric | Target | Measurement | |——–|——–|————-| | Connection requests sent per month | Growing trend | Database | | Connection acceptance rate | >60% | Database | | Messages sent per connected pair | 2+ average | Database |

Job C7: Career Resources

| Metric | Target | Measurement | |——–|——–|————-| | Career page visits per month | Growing trend | Analytics | | Resource downloads per month | Growing trend | Analytics | | Career event attendance | Growing trend | Database |

Job C10: Feel Like I Belong

| Metric | Target | Measurement | |——–|——–|————-| | Monthly active alumni | >60% of verified | Analytics | | Return visits per month | 3+ average | Analytics | | Net Promoter Score | 50+ | Survey | | “I feel more connected to Belmont” | 70% agree | Survey |

Job C12: Discover How to Go Deeper

| Metric | Target | Measurement | |——–|——–|————-| | Tier 2 conversion rate | 10% of verified alumni | Database | | Role quiz completion rate | >80% of starters | Database | | Time from signup to Champion opt-in | Decreasing trend | Database |

Job E4: Reduce Repetitive Work

| Metric | Target | Measurement | |——–|——–|————-| | Staff hours on alumni admin | -50% reduction | Time tracking | | Alumni verified per hour | 10+ (vs. 4 previously) | Process timing | | Support requests to Engagement Team | -30% reduction | Help desk |

11. Strategic Recommendations

What’s Been Validated

The JTBD analysis from early 2025 drove the build order. Here’s what played out:

Recommendation Outcome
✅ Directory is the MVP Phase 1.3 delivered. Foundation of the platform.
✅ Add “Connect” early Phase 1.7 (messaging), then Phase 10 (full connections). Validates C6 as high-opportunity.
✅ Dashboard shows activity, not just announcements Delivered across Phase 1, 3, 8, 14.
✅ Recognition matters Phase 11 (role card), Phase 14 (attribution). Champion-specific recognition without gating.
✅ Warm, not sterile Design Guidelines adopted. Phase 4 mobile polish. Phase 12 language alignment.
✅ Mobile-first Phase 4 dedicated to mobile consistency.
✅ Differentiate from Facebook No algorithms, no ads. Community-structured, privacy-respecting.

What Phase 13 Delivered (JTBD Lens)

Phase 13 addressed the most remaining JTBD opportunity. What was delivered:

  1. Progressive disclosure (C10, C12) — New users see 3–4 dashboard sections based on where they are in their journey, not 13+.
  2. Activity feed (C5) — A unified “what you missed” feed merging discussions, news, and photos.
  3. Nudge engine (C12) — After performing Champion-like actions (posting, connecting, submitting content), gentle nudges to opt in.
  4. Tier-aware content (C10, C11) — Champions see contribution coaching; Members see discovery prompts. Different tiers, different experience.

Feature Backlog (JTBD-Aligned)

Feature Primary Job Priority Notes
Alumni Business Directory C1 High “Hire a Bruin” — extends C1 into professional context
Native Mobile App C10 High Push notifications; meets alumni where they are
Real-Time Messaging C6 Medium WebSocket upgrade to current messaging
Map View C1, C8 Medium Geographic alumni visualization
Newsletter Tool C5 Medium Staff-curated digests
Mentorship Program C9 Medium Structured giving-back beyond ad hoc connections

Development Principles (Adopted)

1. Build Measurement with Each Feature

Every phase includes metrics. Prevents “measurement debt” and enables early value demonstration.

2. Recognition at Every Opportunity

Job C11 (Feel Recognized) informs every feature — surface activity, celebrate contributions, welcome newcomers, enable peer recognition.

Guiding Question: For every new feature, ask: “How can we recognize the people who contribute?”

3. Alumni-First, Always

Per Phase 12: default to “alumni” and “Bruins” in all contexts. Reserve “Champion” for celebratory moments when someone has opted in.

4. Progressive, Not Overwhelming

Per Phase 13: reveal depth as alumni are ready for it. Tier 1 sees discovery; Tier 2 sees contribution coaching; Tier 3 sees community health.

Document Purpose
STAKEHOLDER-OVERVIEW.md Value propositions, feature details, full roadmap
phases/ Detailed phase specifications
development/DESIGN-GUIDELINES.md Visual design standards
development/LANGUAGE_STYLE_GUIDE.md Voice, tone, word choices
source/README.md Canonical source documents index
ai/ AI context bundle for Claude Project
BACKLOG.md Feature backlog with specifications

This document should be reviewed quarterly and updated as we learn from real alumni usage.