Should Reforge prioritize expanding its course catalog with new topics or focus on updating existing programs to maintain relevance in the fast-changing tech industry?

Introduction

The trade-off question at hand is whether Reforge should prioritize expanding its course catalog with new topics or focus on updating existing programs to maintain relevance in the fast-changing tech industry. This scenario involves balancing growth through new offerings against maintaining the quality and relevance of current programs. I'll approach this analysis by examining the business context, user impact, technical considerations, and resource allocation.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Based on Reforge's business model, I'm thinking revenue is primarily driven by course enrollments. Could you confirm if this is the case, and if there are any other significant revenue streams?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize solution based on financial impact Expected answer: Course enrollments are primary revenue driver Impact on approach: Would influence decision on balancing new vs. existing courses

• Considering user behavior, I'm assuming professionals enroll in multiple courses over time. What's the typical enrollment pattern for Reforge users?

Why it matters: Informs strategy on user retention and lifetime value Expected answer: Users often take 2-3 courses within a year Impact on approach: May lean towards updating existing courses if retention is high

• Looking at the tech landscape, I'm thinking certain topics become outdated faster than others. What's the average lifespan of a Reforge course before it needs significant updates?

Why it matters: Helps determine urgency and frequency of course updates Expected answer: Courses typically need major updates every 12-18 months Impact on approach: Could influence resource allocation between new and existing courses

• Regarding team capacity, I'm assuming there's a limited pool of subject matter experts and course creators. How scalable is the content creation process for both new and updated courses?

Why it matters: Determines feasibility of pursuing both strategies simultaneously Expected answer: Content creation is a bottleneck, especially for new topics Impact on approach: Might favor focusing on one strategy over trying to do both

• Considering market demand, I'm thinking there might be pressure to expand into emerging tech topics. Are there any specific areas where you're seeing increased interest from potential students?

Why it matters: Identifies potential high-impact areas for new course development Expected answer: High demand for AI/ML and blockchain courses Impact on approach: Could prioritize expansion into these high-demand areas