When you understand the business demands more deeply, proposing a practical solution approach, a workable technology stack, an appropriate project methodology, and a well-tailored project plan with an accurate cost and timetable estimate is easier. This type of outlook is only possible with a product discovery phase in place.
But where does a product discovery stand from a BA perspective?
Exploring, researching, and ideating potential product ideas – all this and much more is encompassed by the product discovery phase, a critical component of the product development cycle. It is a crucial stage that helps businesses gain a thorough understanding of their customers, the market, and the competition while simultaneously defining their product strategy and objectives.
At this stage, cross-functional teams (business analysts, tech specialists, tram leads, etc.) collaborate to identify and prioritize customer problems, validate assumptions, i.e., solutions, and develop an initial product concept that aligns with the business objectives. The process is customer-centric, data-driven, and iterative, as many changeable variables must be considered. Conducting user research, market research, competitive analysis, and developing user personas are vital to recognizing the target audience’s needs and pain points.
The business landscape changes at light speed while consumer demands dictate their own rules. This forms the need to continuously test and validate end products’ alignment with the market needs and the user requirements. The end result is the foundation for the subsequent stages of the product development cycle.
Discovery is used to avoid confusing the vision of your target market, who are your end customers, with your vision for the product (which may be limited to your preferences and experience). Because of this, the concept of product discovery emerged as an exhortation to leave your offices and speak with customers in order to identify their real-world problems. Therefore, the purpose of a software project’s discovery phase is to reduce the chance of developing a useless app.
Developing a website is not as simple as creating an interface for users to access the information. Numerous factors are involved, including complex user interactions, the integration of various technologies, and compatibility with different devices and platforms.
That is why the discovery phase is an essential aspect of web development. It helps analyze the requirements, user preferences, and market needs before landing on the final product.
Web development encompasses much more than just writing code. A handful of activities (like researching, brainstorming, and validating the product idea) come prior to actual programming. It helps the development team understand exactly who they are developing for, what needs they are attempting to meet, and what features the final product will offer to its users. The phase also helps identify potential roadblocks and challenges with the process and find solutions for these problem areas.
From a BA’s standpoint, the discovery phase’s primary objective is to comprehend consumer needs, the market, and competitors and deliver a value proposition within the anticipated financial constraints and time frames.
What are the overall expectations from a BA in this phase?
Collaboration with stakeholders at this stage is one of the most important tasks of business analysts. Before the discovery phase, the BA should focus on understanding the stakeholders and users to align the goals and objectives of the project with customer needs. The BA will also need to gather information about the product, domain, and client to prepare for meeting the stakeholders. This could involve researching competitors, understanding market trends, and gaining insights into potential opportunities for growth.
During the discovery phase, the BA should collaborate with stakeholders to elicit the project’s requirements: identify the product vision statement, unique value proposition, target market, and understand the problem statement. The BA should also prioritize the goals, objectives, and outcomes based on customer needs and expectations.
After the product discovery phase, the role of a Business Analyst becomes even more crucial as they are expected to produce several essential documents that serve as the foundation for the product development process. In the end, the BA is responsible for:
Business analysis lays the groundwork for effective planning, estimating, and execution, ultimately improving stakeholder satisfaction and project outcomes. But is only the first step in the discovery phase. What’s next? Read on in our following articles!