This is just Amazon's "Working Backwards" methodology [1] expressed simplistically. There's also a book about written by key Amazon people. [2]

A core part of the Working Backwards idea is to start out by writing a fake press release, even for internal projects. This helps crystallize exactly what is important and what isn't, as it forces you to express your goal precisely and succinctly as well as define what it brings to the table.

[1] https://youtu.be/aFdpBqmDpzM?si=NFM9N62VpWmRi8Jp

[2] https://www.amazon.com/Working-Backwards-Insights-Stories-Se...

“Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon” - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250267595 by Amazon executives. Gives overview of Amazon’s core practices that made them successful.

I wonder how widespread this is outside Amazon. Compare it to, say, Google: In Bay Area, the cultural influence of Google is strong both in good and bad ways. Things like OKR, monorepo, snippets, go links etc. seem to be adopted by many younger companies. I don't think it means these cultural artifacts are always superior. It'd be more about familiarity for ex-Google employees.

There must be a lot of ex-Amazon talents, but I haven't heard or read this outside the context of Amazon. If this is unique to Amazon, why?

Maybe the book "Working Backwards" [1] is changing the situation? I'm very curious, and honestly, a bit envious.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Working-Backwards-Insights-Stories-Se...