Should Progressive Leasing prioritize expanding its retailer network to increase customer options, or focus on improving the user experience of its existing lease-to-own platform?

Introduction

The trade-off question at hand is whether Progressive Leasing should prioritize expanding its retailer network to increase customer options or focus on improving the user experience of its existing lease-to-own platform. This scenario involves balancing growth through partnerships versus enhancing the core product experience. I'll analyze this trade-off by examining the business context, user impact, technical considerations, and potential outcomes.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Business Context: I'm thinking our revenue model might heavily influence this decision. Could you share how our revenue is currently split between existing retailers and new partnerships?

Why it matters: Helps determine if expansion or optimization will have a bigger impact on revenue Expected answer: 70% from existing, 30% from new partnerships Impact on approach: Higher existing revenue would lean towards UX improvements

• User Impact: Based on user feedback, I'm assuming there might be pain points in the current platform. What are the top 3 user complaints we're receiving?

Why it matters: Identifies if UX improvements are urgently needed Expected answer: Confusing application process, slow approval times, limited product selection Impact on approach: Significant UX issues would prioritize platform improvements

• Technical Feasibility: Considering our current tech stack, I'm curious about the complexity of integrating new retailers. How long does it typically take to onboard a new retail partner?

Why it matters: Assesses the effort required for expansion Expected answer: 2-3 months per major retailer Impact on approach: Longer integration times might favor focusing on existing platform

• Resource Allocation: Looking at our team structure, I'm wondering about our capacity for parallel initiatives. How are our product and engineering resources currently allocated between platform maintenance and new integrations?

Why it matters: Determines if we can pursue both options simultaneously Expected answer: 60% maintenance, 40% new integrations Impact on approach: Limited resources might force choosing one priority

• Timeline Pressure: Considering market dynamics, I'm thinking about competitive pressures. Are there any upcoming events or competitor moves that might influence our timeline for either option?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize based on external factors Expected answer: Major competitor launching expanded retailer network in Q4 Impact on approach: Imminent competitive threat might push towards rapid expansion