Product ExecutionProduct Design

How do you prioritize competing features?

Product Manager

Asana

Instacart

Palo Alto Networks

Docker

CrowdStrike

Gett

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Expert Answer

Anonymous

4.6Exceptional
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

4.4Exceptional
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

4.2Exceptional
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

3.6Strong
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
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Interview question asked to Product Managers interviewing at athenahealth, Noom, Gett and others: How do you prioritize competing features?.