What are Product Validation Techniques?
Product Validation Techniques are different tests and experiments that aim to make sure that a feature (that often occurs as a solution in an Opportunity Solution Tree and is described in a Product Requirements Document or PRD) will succeed, before investing the developer time to build it.
Before doing such tests, it is important to know what risks to test. Assumption mapping can reveal the risks to a feature that would have a big impact if they materialize, but where it is unknown if they will materialize.
The risks can be categorized into four types of risk - value, usability, feasibility, viability risks, and different validation techniques works to reduce uncertainty for different type of risk.
Product validation techniques are part of the work on solution risk validation done in the discovery part of the product management process.
Examples of Product Validation Techniques
The type of validation technique to use depends on the type of risk, for example:
- Value risk: Fake door test, Landing page test, Concierge test
- Usability risk: Mockup, Live data prototype, Heuristic evaluation
- Feasibility risk: Feasibility prototype test, API test
- Viability risks: Mock press release, Customer letter
