More quality through product discovery

Product discovery helps to develop products successfully. It is essential to gather information at an early stage and to adopt the user's perspective. The process often begins with workshops that uncover blind spots and help to clarify uncertainties before development begins. User research also plays a central role in setting the right direction and making informed decisions. A well thought-out discovery process can make the difference between a product that inspires and one that misses the mark.

Podcast Episode: More quality through product discovery

In this episode, I talk to Curie Kure about product discovery. How can we gather all the necessary information about the product early on and take the user perspective? Curie shows how important it is to clarify uncertainties before the first lines of code are written. We talk about the process of product discovery, which often begins with a workshop to uncover blind spots. Curie explains how user research helps to set the right direction.

"It's definitely worth doing it because you avoid mistakes very, very early on. You get feedback very early on with things that aren't even programmed." - Curie Kure

Are we solving the right problem right now? Have we chosen the right approach? These are the two questions Curie Kure, Senior User Experience Designer, employed by the custom development partner slashwhy GmbH&Co. KG, asks in all her projects.After studying communication design, these two questions led her to the world of digital products and services via several stations in classic graphic design. She specialized in conception and expanded her skills to include research methods, transformation and moderation with the extra-occupational degree "Certified UX & Usability Professional" (artop Academy - Institute at Humboldt University Berlin).

Highlights der Episode

• Product Discovery clarifies uncertainties before the first code is written.
• User perspective is crucial for successful product development.
• Workshops uncover blind spots in the development process.
• User research steers the project in the right direction.
• Gathering information at an early stage prevents undesirable developments.

Better quality with Product Discovery

Introduction

Quality assurance in software development is a crucial process to ensure error-free and user-friendly products. Product discovery plays a central role in this by collecting all relevant information about the product at an early stage and, in particular, by incorporating the user's perspective.

In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the topic of "Better quality with Product Discovery" and explain the following points:

• The importance of Product Discovery for quality assurance
• The role of the user perspective in product development
• How Product Discovery helps to identify and avoid potential errors.

What is Product Discovery?

Definition of Product Discovery

Product discovery refers to a process within software development in which all relevant information about a product is collected and analyzed at an early stage. The aim is to reduce uncertainties and gain clarity about the product to be developed. Instead of starting implementation immediately, the first step is to research what exactly is to be built - for whom and what purpose it needs to fulfill. In this way, undesirable developments can be avoided.

Role in the software development process

Product discovery is not a one-off step, but an iterative process that ideally takes place before and during development. It helps to define requirements more precisely and appraise assumptions. In practice, this often means workshops with different stakeholders such as UX designers, developers, product managers and users.

"You sit down together, gather existing knowledge and identify blind spots that still need to be explored." - Curie Kure

Importance of the user perspective

The focus on the user is key. A suitable product can only be developed if you understand how users actually work and what problems they have. User research - such as interviews or observations - provides valuable insights into users' everyday lives.

These findings help:

• validate assumptions
• identify real needs
• *Minimize risks due to wrong functions

This ensures that the software delivers the right benefits and does not fail to meet the requirements.

The advantages of structured product discovery

Product discovery offers clear advantages if it is implemented in a structured and systematic way. The targeted collection of information before the actual development is central to this. It helps with this,

• clarify unclear requirements at an early stage,
• recognize hidden risks and
• Reduce uncertainties.

Misguided developments often arise from assumptions that have not been appraised or a lack of detail in understanding user needs. Product Discovery ensures that these assumptions are questioned and validated before time and resources are spent on implementation.

The focus is consistently on the needs of the right target group. This means not simply building a solution, but identifying the exact problem that is relevant to the user. This is the only way to create a product with real added value.

Another advantage is that the involvement of various stakeholders - from UX designers to developers and customer advisors - creates a holistic picture of the product and its requirements. This ensures that all perspectives are taken into account and that the result remains targeted.

Advantages of Product Discovery:** Minimization of bad investments and undesirable developments through well-founded user perspectives and precise target group orientation.

This structured approach helps you to make your product safer and of higher quality.

The sequence of a typical product discovery process

Better quality with Product Discovery is achieved through a clearly structured process that runs in several phases. The focus is on the early and comprehensive collection of information, which brings everyone involved to the same level of knowledge.

Phases of the Product Discovery process:

1. Workshop to gather knowledge
2. All relevant project participants - from UX designers, developers and product owners to stakeholders and user-oriented teams such as support or sales - come together. The aim is to pool existing knowledge and understand the user's perspective in detail. For example, user journeys are created and processes are described in detail in order to uncover blind spots.
3. Identification of uncertainties and need for research
4. The workshop often reveals questions that require further clarification - such as specific user habits or technical framework conditions. These findings form the basis for targeted user research.
5. User research for validation
6. Qualitative methods such as interviews or observations help to validate assumptions and paint a realistic picture of everyday user life. The insights gained in this way serve to define requirements more precisely and prevent undesirable developments.
7. Ideation workshops with creative techniques
8. Building on the research results, the team develops a wide range of ideas for solutions. Methods such as Crazy 8 promote rapid brainstorming and broad approaches to solutions without premature restrictions.
9. Creation of prototypes
10. Initial drafts are implemented as clickable paper or digital prototypes. These are deliberately kept simple so that feedback can be obtained and adapted quickly.
11. Validation through prototype tests
12. User feedback flows directly into further development. Sources of error are identified and corrected at an early stage before actual software development begins.

This process not only enables you to define requirements more clearly, but also to target the needs of the right target group - a key factor for sustainable product quality.

Challenges and solutions when implementing product discovery in the company

When implementing Product Discovery, various challenges can arise that can complicate the process and affect its success. Some of these challenges are

• Time commitment: Implementing a structured Product Discovery process takes time, especially when workshops, user research and prototype testing need to be conducted. Employees may have to take time away from other projects, which can lead to bottlenecks.
• Cost-benefit consideration: Another obstacle can be the question of the cost of conducting product discovery in relation to the benefits. Some companies may be reluctant to invest resources in this process if they do not clearly see the immediate benefits.

To overcome these challenges, the following strategies may be helpful:

• Clear goal setting: Define clear goals and expectations for the product discovery process to ensure that the time and resources invested are used effectively.
• Training and awareness: Train employees in the benefits of product discovery and sensitize the team to the importance of user-centric development.

By specifically addressing these challenges, companies can implement effective product discovery processes and benefit from high-quality products in the long term.

Conclusion: Sustainable product quality through effective product discovery processes

Product discovery is not a one-off project, but a continuous process that contributes to sustainable quality assurance. Those who systematically and consciously incorporate the user perspective build products that truly meet the needs of the target group. This minimizes sources of error and reduces expensive rework.

Important advantages of the consistent application of Product Discovery:

• Improved product quality: Early validation avoids undesirable developments and ensures custom-fit solutions.
• More agile collaboration: Teams benefit from clearer requirements and a common understanding.
• Risk and cost minimization: Investments in discovery pay off through lower development risks.
• Customer centricity: The focus is on the users - this strengthens the acceptance and success of the product.

Better quality with Product Discovery means that you are not only faster to market, but also more sustainably convincing. Investing in this process is a decisive step towards successful software projects.