8. Commonplace truths are there to be followed, not just to be remembered
Mobile apps are full of absurdities. At the end of a business meeting, I’m ordering myself a taxi, and all of a sudden the app makes a loud noise to tell me that I’ve achieved the next level of their customer loyalty program. Or, I’m buying myself lunch: I open the cafe’s app to scan my loyalty card, which suddenly disappears, asking me to fill in a form. At the gas station, instead of giving me a QR code, the app is asking me to rate it. Such absurdities in user experience are so easy to fix, but they’re still there.
Product managers must regularly use their own product. This is a commonplace truth. It is the easiest way to quickly spot and eliminate any distractions, even if it’s not for the sake of improving product metrics. Just for your own comfort. Those commonplace truths are there to be followed, not just to be remembered. A third-party contractor who launched the app doesn’t go to that cafe or gas station — they simply don’t care.
Tales of a Product Owner: concentrated wisdom about project management, team creation and UX. New tale every Tuesday and Thursday!
