Review Criteria -- Product Discovery Review

Evidence Quality Validation

Past Behavior Indicators (Good)

"Tell me about the last time..." | "When did you last..." | "What happened when..." | "Walk me through how you..." | "What did you try..." | "How much have you spent on..." Specific dates, dollar amounts, named tools, concrete examples, emotional frustration language

Future Intent Red Flags (Reject)

"Would you use/pay/like..." | "Do you think..." | "Imagine if..." | "What if we..." Flag and reject if >20% of evidence is future-intent.

Validation Thresholds

• Past behavior ratio: >80% (reject if fail, require re-interview)
• Specific examples: min 3 concrete per finding (warn if fail)
• Customer language: quotes in customer words, not paraphrased (warn if fail)

Sample Size Minimums

Phase	Minimum	High Confidence	Notes
1: Problem	5	10	Interviews required
2: Opportunity	10	20	Quantitative supplements, not replaces
3: Solution	5 per iteration	3 iterations max	Before decision
4: Viability	5	--	Stakeholder review required

Pivot decision rule: min 5 consistent signals. Block decisions on fewer.

Decision Gate Criteria

G1: Problem to Opportunity

Proceed: 5+ confirm pain + willingness to pay | Pivot: differs from expected | Kill: <20% confirm Checks: 5+ interviews, >60% confirmation, customer words, 3+ examples

G2: Opportunity to Solution

Proceed: top 2-3 score >8 (0-20) | Pivot: new opportunities | Kill: all low-value Checks: OST complete with 5+, scores correct (Importance + Max(0, Importance - Satisfaction)), top >8/20

G3: Solution to Viability

Proceed: >80% task completion, usability validated | Pivot: needs refinement | Kill: fundamental blocks Checks: 5+ users/iteration, >80% completion, core flow usable, value validated

G4: Viability to Build

Proceed: 4 risks addressed, model validated | Pivot: adjustment needed | Kill: no viable model Checks: Lean Canvas complete, all risks green/yellow, stakeholder sign-off

Bias Types

Confirmation Bias (critical)

Signals: only positive quotes | skeptics not interviewed | disconfirming evidence dismissed | same questions for "right" answers Fix: include skeptics, actively seek disconfirming evidence

Selection Bias (high)

Signals: all existing customers | no churned/non-adopters | lacks diversity | single-enthusiast referral chain Fix: random/diverse selection, include skeptics and non-users

Discovery Theater (critical)

Signals: conclusion decided before research | findings match hypothesis perfectly | no surprises | idea-in = idea-shipped Fix: track idea evolution, expect 50%+ ideas to change

Sample Size Problem (high)

Signals: major decisions on 2-3 interviews | single quote as "validation" | pivot on one signal Fix: min 5 interviews per segment, 5+ signals for decisions

Anti-Patterns

Interview Anti-Patterns

Pattern	Detection	Bad	Good	Severity
Leading questions	Suggests desired answer	"Don't you think this would save time?"	"Tell me about the last time you tried to save time on this"	high
Future-intent	Hypothetical behavior	"Would you use this feature?"	"What have you tried to solve this problem?"	critical
Compliments as validation	Accepting "that's cool"	"They loved the idea!"	"They committed to follow-up and referral"	high
Talking > listening	>30% interviewer talk	Long questions, short responses	Open questions, extended answers	medium

Process Anti-Patterns

Pattern	Detection	Severity
Skipping to solutions	Solution before problem validated	critical
Demographic segmentation	Segments by demographics not jobs	medium
Building before testing	Code before Phase 3	critical

Strategic Anti-Patterns

Pattern	Detection	Severity
Premature pivoting	Direction change on 1-2 signals (need 5+)	high
Solution love	Defending despite evidence, dismissing critics	high
Sole source of truth	Only quant OR qual, not both	medium

Pre-Approval Checklist

Evidence Quality

• Past behavior ratio >80% | [ ] No critical future-intent | [ ] Customer language preserved

Sample Sizes

• Phase 1: 5+ | [ ] Phase 2: 10+ | [ ] Phase 3: 5+/iteration | [ ] Phase 4: 5+ with stakeholders

Decision Gates

• All gates properly evaluated | [ ] Criteria documented with evidence | [ ] Decision justified

Bias Check

• No confirmation bias | [ ] No selection bias | [ ] No discovery theater | [ ] Sample size adequate

Anti-Patterns

• No critical interview anti-patterns | [ ] No critical process anti-patterns | [ ] No critical strategic anti-patterns

Approval Decision

• Approved: all checks pass, no critical issues. Formal handoff to product-owner.
• Conditionally approved: minor issues only (no critical/high). Approval with recommendations.
• Rejected: any critical/high issue. Structured rejection with remediation. Blocks handoff.