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We track Product so you don't have to. Top Podcasts summarised, the latest AI tools, plus research and news in a 5 min digest.

Hey Product fans!

Welcome to this week’s 🌮 Product Tapas.

If you’ve been forwarded this or reading it later, you can sign up and check previous editions here.

Remember, app users and those reading online can opt to listen to the newsletter using the audio link at the top.

Love to hear your feedback (good or otherwise) on the recent changes, so please do drop a comment or reply.

What’s been cooking this week? 🧑‍🍳

📰 Not Boring - This week's been jam-packed. OpenAI has seen a number of high-profile departures (again), including a co-founder going to Anthropic. Nvidia are in the limelight firstly using Apple Vision Pro to control humanoid robots while secondly facing criticism for allegedly scraping vast amounts of video data. In the Google corner, a major antitrust loss could drastically affect their search dominance on iPhones and iPads. Meanwhile, they roll out new AI features in Chrome, and YouTube is introducing community notes to tackle misinformation. Reddit are testing AI-powered search results, and Zoom is enhancing its document features with AI driven templates. On top of this we’ve news from Humane, Amazon, Tiktok and X. Not to mention news of a slowdown in the AI hype cycle (not that you can tell from the news!) AND a way to change your mood with an ultrasound headset….!

⌚ Time-Saving Tools & GPTs - Boost your productivity with this week’s picks covering AI-driven talent sourcing, a way to query anything with SQL, more no-code workflow automation and killer onboarding for SAAS. Plus, one tool that promises to unify all your work tools in one place, reminiscent of those late '90s personalised homepage apps.

🍔 Blog Bites - Essential Reads for Product Teams - Dive into raw insights about startups from a first-time founder and learn why starting with the product and working backward is crucial. Explore the differences between PM, Head of Product, and CPO roles with a great piece from Hustle Badger, and understand Nvidia's strategic use of corporate gifting to build goodwill and market dominance. Finally we link to an essay on why more companies are opting for un-gated experiences over traditional homepages to enhance user engagement.

🎙️ Pod Shots - This week, we're tuning into Mind The Product with UX director Javier Vargas from Google. He shares insights on measuring critical user journeys and integrating them into product management. Learn how to define, prioritise, and ensure cross-functional ownership of these journeys to create a more user-centric product development process.

Plenty to get stuck into - off we go! 🚀👇

📰 Not boring

• OpenAI have a way to identify if text has been created by it but won’t watermark its text because its users could get caught

• There have also been lots of OpenAI people moves including one of the cofounders leaving for Anthropic

• On the subject of Anthropic, the UK has launched a formal probe into Amazon’s ties with them

• Nvidia is using Apple Vision Pro to control humanoid robots

• But also they’re in the same boat as every other AI co having been accused of scraping ‘A Human Lifetime’ of videos per day to train AI

• In Google corner this week:

  • They’ve lost a massive antitrust case over search (estimates suggest they could lose 60-80% of iPhone and iPad queries). They plan to appeal and the knock on impact across other companies could be significant

  • In beter news, Chrome adds three new AI features, including one that lets you chat with your browsing history to help find the relevant page 👀 

  • Youtube is apparently getting community notes to help combat misinformation

  • After nine years, Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat gets an AI makeover

  • But they’re killing Chromecast, replacing it with Apple TV and Roku Ultra competitor

  • And in the latest reverse acui-hire example, they’ve poached the CEO of Character.AI

• X to Close Flagship San Francisco Office

  • Meanwhile Elon Musk sues Unilever and Mars over X 'boycott'

• Humane’s AI Pin daily returns are outpacing sales

• Tiktok’s Lite Rewards killed after EU case around addiction

• Zoom Docs integrates a new AI companion

  • TBF Zoom Docs existence was news to me, but seems they’re going “AI 1st” with features such as the ability to create documents from meeting transcripts. Then transform these into templates for future use (e.g. standups, retros etc.)

• Reddit reports better-than-expected results for second quarter as digital ad market improves (DAU up 51% to 91.2m)

  • They’re also taking cues from Google and Perplexity and testing AI-powered search result pages

• Despite all the AI news are there signs that the AI hype cycle is slowing down?

• Finally, Nudge are building an ultrasound headset to enhance human experience. Press a button to shift your brain state: go to sleep, boost focus, break habits, elevate mood, etc. WHAT?

Want even more news?? View more here →

⌚️ Time-Saving Tools & GPTs

• QSourcer: Supercharge your talent sourcing on LinkedIn, GitHub and StackOverflow with AI powered search

• Anyquery: Query anything with just SQL (Chrome, Notion, Sheets, Spotify, Airtable etc….)

• Flows: User onboarding for modern SAAS

• Fleso: no-code platform to automate your workflows

• Making Today: All your work tools in one place (Hat Tip Department of Product for this one)

  • This reminds me of the personalised homepage apps that existed in the late 90s - wish I could remember the name… but hopefully this’ll be more successful

🍔 Blog Bites - Essential Reads for Product Teams

Learn: Raw Intuitions About Startups

Pretty raw insights from a first founder, but he’s posted some pretty useful insights (that resonate with my experiences) here, so worth a share.

Career: What’s The Difference Between PM/ Head of /CPO Roles?

Ed Biden and the Hustle Badger team recently put out a summary of this great article on Product careers so I thought I’d share the link to the original article here.

The below image taken from the article, is a great summary.

Case Study: Why Nvidia donates free products

One company has navigated all the challenges of Silicoln Valley and Semiconductors better than anyone over the past half-decade: Nvidia.

This strategy breakdowns article covers how they used strategic corporate gifting to build goodwill with future customers to deliver

Growth: Why more and more companies are killing their classical Homepage

Consider when a logged in experience actually makes sense.

Usually, the bigger your market, the less prior knowledge people need to get what it is you do and the more your product can work for single player then the more likely it is you can test an un-gated freemium experience and this is better than a classic homepage. This essay by Leah Tharin digs into this thesis.

🎙️ Pod Shots

This week we’re back covering Mind The Product with an episode with Javier Vargas, UX director at Google, recorded live at the Mind the Product Roadshow in Berlin. Javier discusses critical user journeys, how to measure them and integrating them into product management along with his extensive experience in the world of products and design.

⚒️ Measuring critical user journeys

🎧️ Listen to the full episode here

📆 Published: July 11th, 2024

🕒 Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes. Time saved: 27 minutes🔥

👋 Introduction to Critical User Journeys

Background

Critical User Journeys (CUJs) were developed at Google nearly a decade ago. They emerged from a need to improve user experiences when UX was still nascent at the company. A famous anecdote that sparked this movement involved Larry Page struggling to help a friend set up an Android phone, highlighting the complexity of basic user tasks.

What Are CUJs?

CUJs focus on identifying and measuring the key goals and tasks that users aim to accomplish with a product. They provide a framework for ensuring that user needs are at the forefront of product development and decision-making.

Key Takeaways for Founders and Product Managers:

• Define and Prioritise: Understand what tasks are critical for users and align your product development to enhance these experiences.

• Stay User-Centric: Keep the user's goals and motivations at the heart of your product strategies.

• Consistency Across Teams: Ensure all teams are aligned in their understanding and use of CUJs.

🎯 Defining Goals and Tasks

Setting Effective Goals

A critical user journey's goal should reflect what the user aims to achieve, not just the features they want to use. For instance, with Google Photos, the goal could be "to share memories with family and friends," rather than simply using the "share" feature.

Measuring Success

• Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Use both types of research to measure user satisfaction with achieving their goals. Surveys can help assess user satisfaction, while task completion rates can be tracked via logs or observed through qualitative methods.

Key Takeaways for Founders and Product Managers:

• Clarify User Goals: Ensure goals are broad enough to capture the user's true motivations but specific enough to be actionable.

• Measure Holistically: Use a combination of qualitative and quantitative data to get a complete picture of user success.

• Iterate Based on Feedback: Continuously refine goals and tasks based on user feedback and research findings.

🧩 The Role of Tasks in CUJs

Breaking Down Tasks

Tasks are the specific actions users take to achieve their goals. For example, to "share a photo," tasks might include finding the photo, selecting the share option, and choosing a sharing method.

Evaluating Task Efficiency

• Flow Analysis: Analyse user flows to identify optimal paths and deviations. Understand why users might abandon tasks or choose alternative paths.

• Benchmarking and Logs: Use these tools to observe and measure how users complete tasks and where they encounter difficulties.

Key Takeaways for Founders and Product Managers:

• Detail Task Steps: Break down tasks into actionable steps that can be measured and optimised.

• Monitor User Behaviour: Regularly review how users interact with your product to identify pain points and areas for improvement.

• Optimise Task Flows: Strive to make task completion as seamless as possible.

🔄 Integrating CUJs into Product Development

CUJs and OKRs

CUJs can be seamlessly integrated with Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). They provide a user-focused perspective, ensuring that OKRs are not just business-driven but also aligned with improving user experiences.

Continuous Use in Development

CUJs should be used throughout the entire product lifecycle, from prioritisation to launch and beyond. They help teams focus on what matters most to users and align efforts accordingly.

Key Takeaways for Founders and Product Managers:

• Align CUJs with OKRs: Use CUJs to ensure your OKRs reflect user-centred objectives.

• Embed in Daily Routines: Make CUJs a regular part of team discussions, planning, and reviews.

• Holistic Success Metrics: Measure success by looking at both user satisfaction and task completion rates.

🤝 Ensuring Cross-Functional Ownership

Shared Responsibility

For CUJs to succeed, they must be owned and used by the entire team, not just UX. This ensures that the user perspective is integrated into every aspect of product development.

Promoting Organisational Buy-In

Executives should emphasise the importance of CUJs by incorporating them into business reviews and strategy discussions, creating accountability and driving focus on user experience.

Key Takeaways for Founders and Product Managers:

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Engage all team members in defining and measuring CUJs.

• Leadership Support: Gain executive support to ensure CUJs are prioritised and used effectively.

• Team Accountability: Make CUJs a shared responsibility, encouraging input and collaboration from all functions.

📈 Practical Tips for Implementation

Starting with CUJs

To effectively implement CUJs, start by conducting cross-functional workshops to define and agree on the most critical user journeys. Use user insights and data to inform your CUJs.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

One common mistake is treating CUJs as a UX-only project. Ensure CUJs are developed and implemented with input from all relevant teams, fostering a sense of ownership and shared purpose.

Key Takeaways for Founders and Product Managers:

• Collaborative Definition: Involve all relevant teams in the CUJ definition process.

• Avoid Silos: Ensure CUJs are integrated across all stages of product development.

• Iterate and Improve: Regularly revisit and refine CUJs based on user feedback and changing needs.

🎤 Conclusion

Implementing and measuring Critical User Journeys can transform your product development process, ensuring that user needs are at the forefront. By integrating CUJs into your workflow, you create a user-centred culture that prioritises satisfaction and success.

Want to know more quickly? Just ask the episode below [web only]👇️🤯
or if you prefer, 🎧️ Listen to the full episode here

📅Timestamps:

• 00:01:43 - Javier's Role and Background at Google

• 00:02:36 - Transition from Psychology to UX Research

• 00:03:33 - Challenges in Prioritisation

• 00:04:48 - Integrating User Research into Product Development

• 00:05:30 - Introduction to Critical User Journeys (CUJs)

• 00:06:46 - Origin of CUJs at Google

• 00:07:30 - Components of CUJs: Goals and Tasks

• 00:08:34 - Defining User Goals

• 00:09:57 - Measuring Goals and Tasks

• 00:11:11 - Using Logs and Qualitative Methods for Measurement

• 00:12:36 - Pendo Advertisement

• 00:12:58 - Number of Goals and Tasks in CUJs

• 00:14:00 - Writing Effective Tasks

• 00:15:04 - CUJs vs. OKRs

• 00:16:08 - User Definition in CUJs

• 00:17:22 - CUJs in B2B Products

• 00:18:04 - Keeping CUJs Front of Mind

• 00:19:06 - Integrating CUJs into Product Development Lifecycle

• 00:20:20 - Measuring Success in CUJs

• 00:21:02 - Ownership of CUJs

• 00:22:04 - Organizational vs. Team Level Ownership

• 00:22:58 - Starting with CUJs: Best Practices

That’s a wrap.

As always, the journey doesn't end here!

Please share and let us know what you would like to see more or less of so we can continue to improve your Product Tapas. 🚀👋

Alastair 🍽️.