The Analytics team is debating: should we add more custom report options that increase complexity, or maintain standard reports?

Introduction

The Analytics team is debating whether to add more custom report options that increase complexity or maintain standard reports. This trade-off involves balancing user flexibility with simplicity and ease of use. I'll analyze this scenario by examining the product context, potential impacts, and key metrics, then design an experiment to inform our decision.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm assuming this is for our main analytics dashboard. Is that correct, or are we discussing a specific product or feature within our analytics suite?

Why it matters: Helps focus the analysis on the right product area Expected answer: Confirmation it's the main dashboard Impact on approach: Would tailor metrics and user segments accordingly

• Business Context: Based on our recent focus on enterprise clients, I'm thinking this might be driven by their requests for more customization. How does this align with our current strategic priorities and revenue model?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize solution against business objectives Expected answer: High priority for enterprise retention and upsell Impact on approach: Would justify investment in more complex features

• User Impact: I'm considering the different user segments we serve. Could you provide more insight into which user groups are requesting more custom options, and how widespread this demand is?

Why it matters: Helps balance needs of different user segments Expected answer: Primarily advanced users and enterprise clients Impact on approach: Would influence how we design and target new features

• Technical Feasibility: Given our current architecture, I'm wondering about the technical implications of adding more custom options. What's our engineering team's assessment of the complexity and potential performance impacts?

Why it matters: Ensures proposed solution is technically viable Expected answer: Moderate complexity, some performance concerns Impact on approach: Would influence implementation strategy and timeline

• Resource Allocation: Considering our current roadmap, I'm curious about the resources available for this project. What's our capacity for taking on additional complexity in the analytics platform?

Why it matters: Helps determine feasibility and timeline Expected answer: Limited resources due to other priorities Impact on approach: Would influence scope and phasing of implementation