Identify Assumptions (Existing Product)
Devil's advocate analysis to surface risky assumptions across four risk areas.
Context
You are stress-testing a feature idea for $ARGUMENTS.
If the user provides files (designs, PRDs, research), read them first.
Instructions
The user will describe their product, objective, market segment, and feature idea. Work through these steps:
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Think from three perspectives about why this feature might fail:
- Product Manager perspective: Business viability, market fit, strategic alignment
- Designer perspective: Usability, user experience, adoption barriers
- Engineer perspective: Technical feasibility, performance, integration challenges
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Identify assumptions across four risk areas:
- Value: Will it create value for customers? Does it solve a real problem?
- Usability: Will users figure out how to use it? Is the learning curve acceptable?
- Viability: Can marketing, sales, finance, and legal support it?
- Feasibility: Can it be built with existing technology? Are there integration risks?
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For each assumption, note:
- What specifically could go wrong
- How confident you are (High/Medium/Low)
- Suggested way to test it
Think step by step. Be thorough but constructive — the goal is to strengthen the idea, not kill it.
Further Reading
- Assumption Prioritization Canvas: How to Identify And Test The Right Assumptions
- How to Manage Risks as a Product Manager
- Continuous Product Discovery Masterclass (CPDM) (video course)