Goal: Think more like a customer, by thinking about users and how they value features.
Time: 30-60 minutes.
Introduction
Part of a customer's job is to understand what the users need. Rather than talking about abstract end users, it can help to invent some end users with personalities so they're a little more vivid. Think "Sims" (TM Maxis).
Material:
- Feature list for a new product.
- For each team, four blank "wanted" posters (flip chart pages, sections of the whiteboard, etc.).
- Sticky notes (plenty per team).
- Optional: sample, pre-filled poster.
Setup:
- Divide into teams of 3-6 people.
- Provide each team with four posters.
Play
Part 1: 15-30 minutes.
- Give an overview of the product, including the list of potential features.
- Draw a face in the top half of each poster.
- "Lightly" categorize their expertise based on what you think the mix of product usage should be. (E.g., one beginner, two medium, one expert; or three beginners and an expert).
- Give each one names and a personality.
- What car do they drive?
- Favorite movie
- Pets?
- Biggest like/dislike
- Or whatever else you want.
Part 2: 15-30 minutes.
- For each person, what are their two or three most-wanted and least-wanted features? Write each of those feature names on a sticky note and put it on that user's poster.
- Are there features that are missing for anybody?
- Are there features that are "delighters" for anybody?
Debrief
- What mix of skills did you decide on?
- What attributes did you use?
- Are the beginners and expert's needs in conflict?
- What features are missing? Were any features delighters?
Source:
William C. Wake, inspired by Alan Cooper's About Face and a class by Jim Highsmith.