Glossaries
Product Discovery
What is Product Discovery?
Product Discovery is a crucial phase in product management where teams explore and validate product ideas, user needs, and potential solutions before committing to full-scale development.
Synonyms: Idea Validation, Product Exploration, User Research Phase, Problem-Solution Fit
Why Product Discovery is Important
Product Discovery is essential for creating successful products that meet user needs and business objectives. It helps teams:
- Reduce the risk of building the wrong product
- Save time and resources by validating ideas early
- Align stakeholders on product vision and goals
- Uncover innovative solutions to user problems
How Product Discovery is Conducted
Product Discovery typically involves the following steps:
- Identifying user problems and needs through research
- Generating and prioritizing potential solutions
- Creating prototypes or minimum viable products (MVPs)
- Testing and validating ideas with users
- Iterating based on feedback and learnings
Examples of Product Discovery Techniques
Several techniques can be used during Product Discovery:
- User interviews and surveys
- Competitive analysis
- Prototype testing
- A/B testing
- Customer journey mapping
- Design sprints
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between Product Discovery and Product Development?: Product Discovery focuses on identifying and validating product ideas, while Product Development is about building and delivering the actual product.
- How long should Product Discovery take?: The duration varies depending on the project, but it typically ranges from a few weeks to a few months.
- Who should be involved in Product Discovery?: Product managers, designers, researchers, and sometimes engineers should participate in Product Discovery activities.
- Can Product Discovery be skipped?: Skipping Product Discovery increases the risk of building products that don't meet user needs or business goals, potentially wasting time and resources.
