In the fast-moving world of technology, product discovery is becoming important not just for product managers, but also for developers. As AI and digital transformation change the tech industry, developers who understand product discovery can build better, more user-friendly products. Here’s what you need to know about product discovery and how to use it to create products that people actually need.
What is Product Discovery?
Product discovery is about making sure you're building the right product, not just building a product correctly. It focuses on understanding what users truly need and figuring out if your solution meets those needs. As AI makes coding easier, developers might be great at writing code but lack experience in user-centered design. Knowing your users' goals and the most important features is key.
How Product Building Has Evolved
In the past, methods like Agile and Scrum focused on building products efficiently and correctly. Developers worked on improving reliability through practices like test-driven development and continuous integration.
Now, the focus has shifted to solving the right problems. This means choosing the right tasks to work on and testing ideas repeatedly. Developers play an important role in this process by helping decide what features should be built.
From Problem to Solution
A successful product doesn’t just work well—it solves a real problem for the user. Tools like the Value Proposition Canvas and Jobs to Be Done theory can help developers understand these problems. If developers only focus on functionality, they might miss important emotional needs or user expectations.
Key Risks in Product Development
Building a tech product means managing these five risks:
Value Risk: Will users actually pay for this product?
Usability Risk: Is it easy for users to use?
Feasibility Risk: Can we build it with the tools and resources we have?
Viability Risk: Can this product succeed financially?
Ethical Risk: Should we build this product at all?
Developers who understand these risks can provide valuable input during product discovery.
The Developer's Role in Continuous Discovery
Product discovery isn’t a one-time process—it’s ongoing. Just like continuous delivery in coding, developers can apply continuous learning and feedback to product discovery. By testing ideas and getting user feedback, developers ensure that the product evolves to meet user needs.
As Marty Cagan, a well-known product management expert, says:
"If you're using your engineers only for coding, you are getting only half the value."
Developers can and should be active participants in product discovery, helping to shape products, not just code them.
Conclusion
Product discovery is a team effort and crucial for creating meaningful tech products. Developers sit between technology and user experience and can combine their coding skills with user insights to build innovative products. Using frameworks to understand user problems helps ensure you build products that are not just functional but user-friendly.
For more insights, check out Konstantin Diener’s talk on product discovery for developers from the World Congress 2024, as we think you'll enjoy it!
