Continuous Discovery Habits: Discover Products that Create Customer Value and Business Value

by Teresa Torres

Types of Assumptions Assumptions come in all shapes and sizes. As product trios, we are primarily concerned with assumptions in the following categories:47 Desirability assumptions: Does anyone want it? Will our customers get value from it? As we create solutions, we assume that our customers will want to use our solution, that they will be willing to do the things that we need them to do, and that they’ll trust us to provide those solutions. All of these types of assumptions fall into the desirability category. Viability assumptions: Should we build it? There are many ideas that will work for our customers but won’t work for our business. If we want to continue to serve customers over time, we need to make sure that our solutions are viable—that they create a return for our business. This typically means that the idea will generate more revenue than it will cost to build, service, and maintain. However, some ideas are designed to be loss leaders and instead contribute to another business goal besides revenue. But somewhere down the line, the idea must create enough value for the business to be worth the effort to create and maintain. Feasibility assumptions: Can we build it? We primarily think about feasibility as technical feasibility. Is it technically possible? Feasibility assumptions, however, can also include, “What’s feasible for our business?” For example, will our legal or security team allow for it? Will our culture support it? Does it comply with regulations?48 ...

Types of assumptions