Introduction: What You’ll Learn
This simulation helps you practice asking the right questions to clarify vague product specifications. Effective communication is key to aligning stakeholders and ensuring the team builds the right product.
You’ll practice:
- Identifying areas where specifications are unclear
- Asking targeted questions to gain clarity
- Engaging stakeholders to provide detailed insights
- Ensuring alignment on product goals and requirements
Step-by-Step Simulation
Scene 1: Initial Meeting with Stakeholders
Facilitator: "Hey team, thanks for joining today. We’re here to go over the specs for our upcoming feature release. The aim is to make sure we’re all on the same page. Let’s dive into the main objectives we’ve got in the spec."
Stakeholder (as Product Manager): "Sure thing. We’re looking to boost user engagement by improving the dashboard. The spec mentions a new widget for recent activity and some layout tweaks. We’re open to ideas on how best to implement this."
Facilitator: "Great, thanks for that. Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s make sure we’re clear on what’s needed. Can you share some more details on the new widget? What are we trying to solve for our users?"
Scene 2: Unpacking the Vague Details
Stakeholder: "The widget is designed to give users a quick peek at their recent comments, file uploads, and interactions. We want it to be intuitive and catch the eye."
Facilitator: "Got it. When you say ‘catch the eye,’ do we have any specific design elements in mind, or should we look at past designs for inspiration?"
Stakeholder: "Yeah, let’s aim for something like what we’ve done on the profile page. We want the widget to stand out but not overshadow everything else."
Facilitator: "Sounds good. We’ll take a look at those designs. Are there any specific user personas we should focus on for these changes? Any particular needs?"
Stakeholder: "Definitely our power users, but it should also work well for new users who are still finding their way around."
Scene 3: Ensuring Alignment
Facilitator: "Thanks for clarifying. About the layout adjustments, could you walk us through the changes and any constraints?"
Stakeholder: "We’re thinking about shrinking the header and tweaking the sidebar width to make better use of screen space. It’s important we don’t mess with the current user flow too much."
Facilitator: "Got it. We’ll explore layout options that make sense. Can we set up a design review next week to make sure we’re all aligned before moving forward?"
Stakeholder: "Absolutely, let’s do that. Seeing some mockups will be really helpful."
Scene 4: Wrapping Up
Facilitator: "Alright, let’s wrap up. We’ll focus on the widget showing recent comments and uploads, keep it in line with the profile page design, and optimize the layout. We’ll prep mockups for the design review next week."
Facilitator: "Any other questions or things we should cover before we finish?"
(Team nods in agreement.)
Facilitator: "Awesome. I’ll send out notes and next steps soon. Thanks, everyone, for the productive chat."
Mini Roleplay Challenges
Challenge 1: The stakeholder mentions using "innovative technology" without specifics.
- Best Response: “Could you tell us more about which technologies you’re thinking of and why?”
Challenge 2: A stakeholder suggests a feature that seems out of scope.
- Best Response: “Interesting idea. How does it fit with what we’re trying to achieve in this release?”
Challenge 3: The team is unsure about the priority of features.
- Best Response: “Can we go over the priorities to ensure we’re tackling the most important parts first?”
Optional Curveball Mode
- A stakeholder uses jargon or buzzwords that aren't clear.
- There’s a sudden change in the project deadline.
- Another stakeholder joins mid-discussion with conflicting priorities.
Practice handling each one without derailing the alignment.
Reflection Checklist
Understanding
- Did I identify unclear areas in the specification?
- Did I ask questions that led to clearer requirements?
Communication
- Was I clear and direct in my communication?
- Did I ensure stakeholder expectations were understood by the team?
Alignment
- Did we establish a shared understanding of the product goals?
- Were next steps and responsibilities clearly defined?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming understanding without verification
- Not asking follow-up questions
- Overlooking minor details that could impact the project
- Failing to confirm alignment before proceeding