Essential Terms in Product Development

A method of comparing two versions of a product or feature against each other to determine which one performs better.

Specific conditions that a product must meet to be accepted by a user, customer, or stakeholder.

A model that describes the rate at which a new product is adopted by consumers over time.

A flexible and iterative approach to software development that emphasizes collaboration, customer feedback, and small, rapid releases.

Early testing of a product conducted by internal teams to identify bugs before releasing it to external users.

The collection and analysis of data to inform product decisions and understand user behavior.

A set of rules and protocols for building and interacting with software applications, allowing different systems to communicate with each other.

The use of technology to perform tasks without human intervention, improving efficiency and consistency.

A prioritized list of features, bug fixes, and other tasks to be completed in a product development cycle.

The analysis of user interactions and behaviors with a product to gain insights into usage patterns and preferences.

Testing a product with a select group of external users to gather feedback and identify issues before a full launch.

A collaborative process for generating ideas and solutions during the early stages of product development.

A visual representation of the amount of work completed versus the total work remaining in a sprint or project.

A strategic tool used to visualize and develop a business model, including key partners, activities, and revenue streams.

The percentage of users or customers who stop using a product over a specific period.

The process of analyzing competitors' strengths and weaknesses to identify opportunities for differentiation.

The process of analyzing competitors' strengths and weaknesses to identify opportunities for differentiation.

A research method where users are observed and interviewed in their natural environment to understand their needs and workflows.

A software development practice where code changes are automatically built, tested, and deployed to production environments frequently.

A practice in software development where code changes are automatically tested and merged into a shared repository frequently.

The sequence of tasks that determines the minimum time required to complete a project.

A team composed of members with different expertise and roles, working together to achieve a common goal.

A process of gathering, analyzing, and implementing customer feedback to improve products and services.

A visual representation of a customer's interactions with a product or service, used to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.

A fictional representation of a target customer based on market research and user data, used to guide product development and marketing strategies.

A fictional representation of a target customer based on market research and user data, used to guide product development and marketing strategies.

A time-boxed process for solving design problems through ideation, prototyping, and user testing, typically over five days.

A collection of reusable components, guidelines, and patterns used to maintain consistency and efficiency in product design.

A problem-solving approach that emphasizes empathy, ideation, and prototyping to create user-centered products.

A set of practices that combine software development and IT operations to improve collaboration and automate processes.

The initial stage of product development where research and exploration are conducted to define the problem and identify potential solutions.

A conceptual representation of the key entities and relationships within a particular business domain.

A tool used to gain insights into users' emotions, thoughts, and behaviors by visualizing their experiences.

The person who ultimately uses a product or service.

Measurements used to assess how actively users interact with a product, such as time spent, frequency of use, and interactions per session.

Large bodies of work that can be broken down into smaller tasks or stories in Agile development.

The process of creating products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users, often involving UX and UI design.

The process of testing new ideas, features, or changes to gather data and insights that inform product decisions.

An analysis that assesses the practicality and potential success of a proposed project or solution.

The tendency for a product to accumulate more features than originally planned, often leading to complexity and delays.

A technique that allows specific features to be enabled or disabled in a product without deploying new code.

A structured approach or set of guidelines used to design and develop products, such as design frameworks or software development frameworks.

The development of the client-side portion of a web application, focusing on user interface and experience.

A prototype that includes some level of functionality and interaction, used to test specific features or user flows.

The specific behaviors or functions a system must have to meet users' needs.

The process of analyzing the steps users take to complete a desired action, used to identify drop-off points and optimize conversion rates.

The integration of game-like elements into a product to enhance user engagement and motivation.

A project management tool that visually represents a project schedule, showing tasks, timelines, and dependencies.

A plan for launching a product and promoting it to the target market, including distribution channels, marketing tactics, and sales strategies.

A marketing strategy focused on rapid experimentation and low-cost tactics to grow a product's user base.

Key indicators used to measure the growth and success of a product, such as user acquisition rates and revenue growth.

The visual interface of a software application that allows users to interact with it through graphical elements like buttons and icons.

An event where developers and designers collaborate intensively on projects, often leading to innovative solutions and prototypes.

A visual representation of where users click, scroll, or hover on a web page, used to understand user behavior and optimize design.

A usability inspection method where experts evaluate a product based on predefined heuristics or best practices.

A detailed and interactive prototype that closely resembles the final product in design and functionality.

An approach to design that prioritizes the needs, preferences, and experiences of users.

The process of testing assumptions about a product or market through experimentation and analysis.

The process of generating, developing, and refining ideas for a product or feature.

A development approach where a product is released in small, functional increments rather than as a complete product.

The organization and structuring of information in a product to facilitate navigation and usability.

A dedicated space or team within a company focused on exploring new ideas and technologies.

Legal rights and protections for creations of the mind, such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights, related to product innovations.

A development approach that involves repeatedly refining and improving a product through cycles of feedback and iteration.

A popular project management and issue-tracking tool used in Agile development environments.

A collaborative approach to software development that involves stakeholders in the design and decision-making process.

The process of creating a visual representation of a user's interactions with a product or service, similar to a customer journey map.

A visual workflow management method used in Agile development to visualize work and optimize flow.

The initial meeting where a project team aligns on goals, roles, and expectations for a project.

Metrics used to measure the success and performance of a product or project.

A comprehensive strategy outlining the steps and activities required to release a product to the market successfully.

A methodology focused on minimizing waste and maximizing value in product development.

The rate at which users become proficient with a product or system as they gain experience.

The stages a product goes through from conception to retirement, often including development, launch, growth, maturity, and decline.

A simple, often paper-based representation of a product used for early-stage testing and feedback.

The degree to which a product satisfies the needs and demands of its target market.

The process of gathering and analyzing information about a target market, competitors, and industry trends.

A significant point or event in a project timeline that marks progress or completion of a major phase.

A visual tool used to organize ideas and concepts, often used in brainstorming and planning.

A version of a product that has just enough features to be marketed and provide value to early adopters.

A static visual representation of a product's design used to demonstrate its appearance and functionality.

The strategy of generating revenue from a product or service.

A version of a product with the minimum features needed to gather user feedback and validate assumptions.

The process of identifying and analyzing the needs and requirements of users or stakeholders to guide product development.

A metric used to measure customer loyalty and satisfaction based on the likelihood of recommending a product or service.

The total revenue generated from a product minus any returns, discounts, or allowances.

A specific, often smaller, segment of a market with unique needs and preferences.

The quality attributes of a product, such as performance, security, and usability, not directly related to its functionality.

A framework for setting and tracking goals and outcomes in an organization.

The initial interaction and orientation provided to new users to help them understand and use a product effectively.

A testing phase where a product is made available to a broader audience to gather feedback and identify issues before the official launch.

Software that is freely available and can be modified and shared by anyone.

The ability to deliver products or services in the most cost-effective manner without sacrificing quality.

A detailed description of a fictional user representing a segment of a product's target audience.

A trial run of a product or feature with a limited user group to test its effectiveness and gather feedback before a full-scale launch.

A significant change in a product or business strategy based on feedback or market conditions.

A prioritized list of tasks and features that need to be completed for a product, often used in Agile development.

The process of managing a product's entire lifecycle, from conception to disposal.

A strategic plan that outlines the vision, direction, and progress of a product over time.

A high-level plan that outlines the vision, goals, and direction for a product, including market positioning and competitive differentiation.

The practice of planning, executing, and overseeing projects to achieve specific goals and objectives.

An early, often functional version of a product used to test concepts and gather feedback.

The collection and analysis of non-numeric data to gain insights into user behavior and preferences.

The process of ensuring that a product meets the required quality standards through testing and validation.

The collection and analysis of numeric data to identify patterns and trends.

The practice of quickly making and testing changes to a product based on feedback and learning.

The quick creation of a functional model of a product to test ideas and gather feedback.

The process of planning, scheduling, and controlling the deployment of software releases.

Documentation that provides information about new features, bug fixes, and improvements included in a product release.

The process of collecting and defining the needs and expectations of users and stakeholders for a product.

The identification, assessment, and mitigation of potential risks that could impact a project or product.

The process of defining the boundaries, objectives, and deliverables of a project or product.

An Agile framework for managing complex projects, emphasizing iterative progress and team collaboration.

A set period during which specific tasks and features are completed in Agile development.

Anyone with an interest or investment in a product or project, including customers, team members, and investors.

A unit of measure used in Agile development to estimate the effort required to complete a task or user story.

A strategic planning tool used to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to a product or project.

The structured design of a system, including its components, interactions, and technologies used.

A visual tool used in Agile development to track the progress of tasks and features.

A software development approach where tests are written before the code to guide development.

The period it takes for a product to move from conception to being available for purchase.

A fixed period allocated for completing a specific task or phase of development, used to manage time and resources effectively.

The evaluation of a product's ease of use and user satisfaction through observation and feedback.

A detailed description of how a user will interact with a product to achieve a specific goal.

The final phase of testing where end users evaluate the product to ensure it meets their needs and requirements before release.

The overall experience a user has with a product, including its usability, accessibility, and design.

A visual representation of the steps a user takes to complete a specific task or goal within a product.

The visual and interactive elements of a product that users interact with.

A short, simple description of a feature or functionality from the user's perspective, often used in Agile development.

A statement that explains the unique benefits and value a product provides to its users.

A lean management tool used to analyze and optimize the flow of value through a process or system.

A system for tracking and managing changes to code or documents over time.

The process of identifying and evaluating security weaknesses in a product or system.

A linear approach to software development, where each phase is completed before moving on to the next.

A low-fidelity visual representation of a product's layout and structure, used for planning and design.

The use of technology to automate repetitive tasks and processes within a product or system.

A markup language used to define and structure data for sharing and exchange between systems.

An Agile software development methodology that emphasizes customer satisfaction, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

A principle in software development that encourages building only what is necessary and avoiding unnecessary features.

The practice of adjusting pricing and availability to maximize revenue and profitability for a product.

A psychological phenomenon where people remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones, used to design engaging user experiences.

A design approach that starts from scratch without assumptions, often used to rethink and innovate existing products.

The launch of a product or feature that is available to users immediately without prior notice or pre-release testing.

The practice of dividing a product's interface into distinct areas to organize content and functionality.