Should Glean prioritize expanding its AI search capabilities to cover more enterprise data sources or focus on refining existing search accuracy for current data integrations?

Introduction

The trade-off we're examining today is whether Glean should prioritize expanding its AI search capabilities to cover more enterprise data sources or focus on refining existing search accuracy for current data integrations. This decision is crucial for Glean's product strategy and will significantly impact user experience, resource allocation, and market positioning. I'll analyze this trade-off through multiple lenses, considering user needs, technical feasibility, business impact, and long-term strategic implications.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm assuming Glean is facing increasing competition in the enterprise search market. Could you confirm if this is driving the urgency for this decision, and if there are any specific competitor moves we're reacting to?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize our strategy against market pressures Expected answer: Yes, competitors are expanding their data source coverage Impact on approach: Would lean towards expansion if competition is fierce

• Business Context: Based on our current revenue model, I'm thinking expanding data sources might open up new market segments. How does our pricing structure relate to the number of data sources we cover?

Why it matters: Determines potential revenue impact of expansion Expected answer: Tiered pricing based on data sources and users Impact on approach: Would favor expansion if it directly increases revenue potential

• User Impact: I'm assuming our enterprise clients are requesting both expanded coverage and improved accuracy. Can you share any recent user feedback or survey data on which aspect is more critical to our top clients?

Why it matters: Aligns our strategy with user needs and satisfaction Expected answer: Mixed feedback, with a slight preference for accuracy Impact on approach: Would influence the balance between expansion and refinement

• Technical Feasibility: Considering our current architecture, I'm thinking expanding to new data sources might require significant backend changes. How modular is our current system for adding new integrations?

Why it matters: Determines the technical effort and timeline for expansion Expected answer: Moderately modular, but some core changes needed Impact on approach: Would affect resource allocation and timeline estimates

• Resource Allocation: Given our current team structure, I'm assuming we'd need to reallocate resources for either option. Do we have the capacity to pursue both strategies simultaneously, even at a reduced pace?

Why it matters: Helps determine if we need to make an exclusive choice Expected answer: Limited capacity, need to focus on one primary direction Impact on approach: Would reinforce the need for a clear prioritization