How do you prioritize competing features?

Question

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

When prioritizing competing features for Duolingo, I'd start by diving deep into
our user data and feedback. What are language learners struggling with most?
Where do we see drop-offs in engagement? I'd look at metrics like daily active
users, lesson completion rates, and user retention across different features.
Next, I'd align potential features with Duolingo's core mission of making
language learning accessible and effective. Does a feature significantly improve
learning outcomes or make the experience more engaging? How does it fit into our
gamification model?
I'd also consider our business goals. While Duolingo's core app is free, we need
to balance features that drive user growth with those that might convert free
users to premium subscribers.
Resource constraints are crucial too. I'd work closely with our engineering team
to understand the complexity and development time for each feature. A quick win
that takes a week to implement might take priority over a more impactful feature
that requires months of work.
To systematically evaluate features, I might use a framework like RICE (Reach,
Impact, Confidence, Effort) scoring. This helps quantify our assessment and
makes the prioritization process more objective.
Importantly, I'd ensure we're balancing short-term improvements with our
long-term vision. For instance, a feature introducing more speaking exercises
might be a bigger effort but could dramatically improve learning outcomes and
differentiate us from competitors.
Finally, I'd emphasize an iterative approach. We could release features as A/B
tests to a subset of users, gather data on their impact, and refine our
priorities based on real-world performance.
Throughout this process, I'd collaborate closely with our cross-functional teams
- from curriculum experts to UI designers - to ensure we're considering all
perspectives and creating the best possible learning experience for our users

Anonymous · Answer

I use a structured approach to prioritizing features. For each of the features,
I analyze the impact, urgency, strategic goal alignment, cost vs effort.
Impact - I evaluate the number of customers or which customer segment  these
features would benefit or evaluate if this feature mitigates any existing risks.
I will also analyze if the features impact short term or long term goals. For
Example - A feature addressing a customer pain point would take a higher
precedence over a performance issue if a temporary workaround is available.
Although the performance issue fix will benefit in the long term, but it can be
deferred to a later sprint.
Urgency - I would evaluate to see if any of the features comes with a
Tight deadline - For ex - PCI Compliance. This would make this feature a higher
priority as without a compliant software you can’t exist in the market.
Competitive advantage (Opportunity Cost) - If the feature is critical to getting
a competitive edge then this feature should be prioritized higher as sometimes
delaying on an opportunity cost has a higher loss.
Strategic Goal Alignment - Evaluate the tasks against the business goals in
place like - Revenue growth, retention rate, CSat. If any of the features
directly contribute to the goals then they would take higher precedence. There
has to be a balance between short term and long term alignment here as well.
Team effort - In collaboration with cross functional teams, the effort to build
a feature should be considered. A high reward feature with lower efforts should
be prioritized before a low reward, high effort features.
With this approach I build my prioritized list of features for developement.

Anonymous · Answer

Once we have a list of features from the stakeholders, we need to stack rank
them as per priority to implement them in a phased manner. This is decided by
following various frameworks but not limited to MOSCOW, RICE etc. But
essentially it boils down to effort or cost vs impact. How much we have to spend
and what is the impact. We also need to review competition, market trend, user
interview etc to see how those features suit their needs and how they are
aligned to company goal, strategies and vision.

Anonymous · Answer

If two features compete against each other in resources I will use metrics to
define the impact of both of them. Based on strategic priorities, the initiative
that score a higher score in metrics and KPI´s will be prioritized first. This
process will include all relevant stakeholders including the scrum team

How do you prioritize competing features?

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