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Product discovery is often associated with product managers, and product designers are even considered integral members of this club. But what about engineers? Should they also be a part of the product discovery process? Absolutely, they should.
When we say engineers, it can be the Engineering lead or any engineer who’s actually willing and interested in proactively engaging in product discovery.
Product discovery should be a collaborative process where the product manager, designer, and engineer—often referred to by-product discovery coach Teresa Torres in her books Continuous Discovery Habits as "The Product Trio"—are all involved.
A product trio is typically comprised of a product manager, a designer, and a software engineer. These are the three roles that—at a minimum—are required to create good digital products. - Teresa Torres
This inclusion isn’t just about having these roles in meetings; it means integrating them throughout the entire discovery process.
Engaging with customers, exploring problems, and ideating solutions are all enriched when diverse perspectives of product trio are involved. This diversity helps in carving well-thought-out solutions that truly resonate with users.
With continuous collaboration of product trio, there are no hand-offs of information or waterfall mechanisms. The product discovery cycle becomes more refined, allowing the team to explore potential risks collectively and use their combined expertise to make informed decisions.
As many product discovery experts suggest, having a clear objective from the start that you aim to achieve through discovery is crucial. When the product trio works together from the beginning, there’s a unified commitment to these goals, ensuring consistency from start to finish.
Regular involvement in the discovery process fosters a shared sense of ownership and responsibility for the product's success. It also ensures that everyone on the team aligns with the long-term vision and immediate goals, facilitating consistent and supportive decision-making.
This setup allows each member to gain insights into the others' challenges and considerations. Designers and product managers understand the technical constraints better, while engineers get a deeper appreciation of user experience and market needs.
According to Teresa Torres, the product trio—comprising the product manager, tech lead, and design lead—should cultivate three key mindsets to drive successful outcomes:
Effective product development hinges on true collaboration. This means the product trio should work closely, moving beyond functional silos and avoiding battles over opinions. Integrating diverse perspectives helps co-create a shared understanding and leverages each member’s strengths in creating innovative solutions.
Product discovery is not a one-time event but a continuous process. Regular customer interactions—at least weekly—are crucial for gathering ongoing feedback and co-creating solutions with users. This approach helps prevent long gaps in understanding customer needs and ensures the product remains aligned with market demands.
The trio should embrace a variety of experimental methods beyond just A/B testing. Techniques like prototyping and smoke screen tests can validate ideas quickly and without the need for extensive coding. This variety helps combat confirmation bias and allows for a more effective comparison of different solutions.
Working as a trio can be incredibly rewarding, but it also requires a respectful and inclusive approach to ensure every voice is heard and valued:
Every member of the product discovery team is responsible for mitigating risks—whether it's related to the product's desirability, viability, feasibility, usability, or ethicality. This collective approach breaks down silos and prevents any single perspective from dominating the process. It’s important, however, for each member to also take accountability for their specific areas of expertise, addressing any issues that arise directly related to their responsibilities. Check the image below to understand their responsibilities in an easier way.
While each member of the product trio will have expertise in different areas, it’s crucial to respect and be open to ideas from all team members. Ideas from non-experts in your field might initially seem disconnected, but they can offer fresh perspectives that challenge conventional thinking. Rather than dismissing these ideas, listen patiently and work collaboratively to refine and integrate them where possible.
Maintain open lines of communication where feedback is encouraged and valued. This helps to build trust and ensures that all team members feel comfortable sharing their insights and concerns.
Adopt a flexible approach to product development. Be willing to pivot or iterate on your strategies based on feedback analysis from both customers and team members. This adaptability can lead to more innovative and user-centric products.
Recognize and celebrate successes as a team effort. This not only boosts morale but also reinforces the value of collaborative work and shared achievements.
By embedding these practices and mindsets, the product trio can work more effectively to create products that are not only innovative and technically sound but also deeply aligned with user needs and market opportunities. This collaborative effort is key to successfully navigating the complex realm of product development.
In the next chapter, let’s learn why product discovery is important for your business.
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