Is it better for Marshmallow to expand our product line or deepen functionality within our existing offerings?

Introduction

The key trade-off we're examining is whether Marshmallow should expand our product line or deepen functionality within existing offerings. This decision will significantly impact our product strategy, resource allocation, and market positioning. I'll analyze this trade-off by considering our business context, user impact, technical feasibility, and resource constraints.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm assuming Marshmallow is a consumer-focused tech product. Could you confirm our primary user base and core value proposition?

Why it matters: Helps tailor the analysis to our specific market and users Expected answer: Young professionals, social networking focus Impact on approach: Would influence which features to prioritize

• Business Context: Based on our current market position, are we looking to defend against competitors or capture new market segments?

Why it matters: Informs whether to focus on differentiation or expansion Expected answer: Defending against emerging competitors Impact on approach: Might lean towards deepening functionality for retention

• User Impact: Have we seen any significant shifts in user behavior or requests for new features recently?

Why it matters: Indicates whether expansion or deepening aligns with user needs Expected answer: Increased demand for productivity features Impact on approach: Could support deepening functionality in that area

• Technical: What's our current technical debt situation, and how might it affect our ability to expand or deepen?

Why it matters: Assesses feasibility and potential development timelines Expected answer: Moderate technical debt, but manageable Impact on approach: Might influence the pace of new feature development

• Resources: How are our product and engineering teams currently structured? Do we have capacity for both expansion and deepening?

Why it matters: Determines if we need to choose one direction or can pursue both Expected answer: Teams are at capacity, need to prioritize Impact on approach: Would necessitate a more focused strategy