Prominent tech leaders Emmett Shear, co-founder of Twitch and currently a general partner at Amazon Games, and Steve Huffman, co-founder and CEO of Reddit, have emphasized the critical role of user feedback and data in resolving product roadmap disagreements. Their insights, drawn from a 2017 StanfordOnline discussion, highlight a foundational principle for effective product development in the fast-paced startup environment. The core argument posits that genuine disagreements on what to build become infrequent once teams engage directly with users and analyze relevant data.
Shear, a veteran in the streaming and gaming industry, contends that most product development conflicts arise from a fundamental misstep: generating ideas without prior user consultation. He articulated this common error, stating,
“You talk to your users first, and then you have ideas about your product. Almost everyone does it in the opposite order.” This approach, according to Shear, often leads to a flawed validation process rather than genuine discovery.
He further elaborated on the necessity of data-backed opinions, asserting that without user interaction and data analysis, individuals lack a valid basis for product decisions. Shear stressed,
“If you haven’t talked to users and you haven’t looked at data, you don’t get to have an opinion about the product. The person who has actually done the work gets to have the opinion. You can have ideas, but they get to make the call.” This perspective underscores the importance of evidence-based decision-making over subjective preferences.
In the rare instances where two parties, both having thoroughly consulted users and data, still disagree, Shear advises that a designated decision-maker, such as a CEO, must ultimately make the call. This ensures that discussions, while robust, do not paralyze progress. The emphasis is on healthy debate followed by decisive action to maintain momentum.
Adding to this pragmatic view, Reddit's Steve Huffman reinforced the value of testing and adaptability. Huffman frequently employs two guiding principles in product discussions:
“(1) I don’t want to argue about it if we can just test it, and (2) I’m very willing to be surprised on this.” His comments reflect a strong commitment to empirical evidence and a willingness to challenge preconceived notions based on real-world user interactions and outcomes.
These insights from Shear and Huffman remain highly relevant in today's tech landscape, where user-centric design and agile methodologies are paramount. Companies like Twitch and Reddit continue to leverage extensive user data and feedback loops to inform their product strategies, demonstrating that a deep understanding of the user base is key to minimizing internal friction and fostering successful product innovation.