Release Notes
A release notes document specifies the market-facing conditions and criteria that must be satisfied for the product to be shipped and made available to external users.
Key Points
- Summarizes the shipping criteria required for an external or market release.
- Targets customers, users, partners, and other external stakeholders.
- Typically includes version info, new features, fixes, known issues, and compatibility.
- May reference readiness gates such as security checks, compliance approvals, documentation, and deployment steps.
Example
A SaaS team preparing v2.3 publishes release notes that list: feature additions, resolved defects, known limitations, supported browsers, and rollout date. The notes state shipping criteria such as: penetration tests passed, privacy review complete, help center updated, localization for EN/ES ready, and app store approvals received before public availability.
PMP Example Question
Which item is most appropriate to include in release notes for a market-facing product launch?
- External shipping criteria and market readiness conditions
- Team capacity forecast for the next sprint
- Internal vacation calendar for the development team
- The project charter executive summary
Correct Answer: A — External shipping criteria and market readiness conditions
Explanation: Release notes are intended for external audiences and should communicate what is being released and the criteria for shipping to the market, not internal planning artifacts.
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