You're a PM at a vending machine company. Your CEO asks you to design a new line of vending machines to be placed in hotels and motels. What would you do?

Introduction

Designing a new line of vending machines for hotels and motels presents an exciting opportunity to innovate in the hospitality sector. I'll approach this challenge by first clarifying our objectives, then analyzing the market and user needs, before developing and prioritizing solutions. Let's dive in.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Based on the problem description, I'm thinking this might be for our existing vending machine company expanding into a new market. Is that correct?

Why it matters: Helps frame the solution within our company's capabilities and resources. Expected answer: Yes, we're expanding our existing product line. Impact on approach: We'll leverage our current manufacturing capabilities and supply chain.

• I'm assuming we're an established player in the vending machine industry. Is that accurate?

Why it matters: Influences our approach to innovation and risk-taking. Expected answer: Yes, we have a significant market share in traditional vending locations. Impact on approach: We'll balance innovation with maintaining our core business strengths.

• Are there any specific time or budget constraints for this project?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize features and scale of the rollout. Expected answer: We're aiming for a pilot within 6 months, with a moderate budget. Impact on approach: We'll focus on an MVP with core features for the initial rollout.

• Do we have any existing user research or data on hotel guests' vending machine usage?

Why it matters: Informs our understanding of user needs and behaviors in this specific context. Expected answer: Limited data from partner hotels, but no comprehensive study. Impact on approach: We'll need to conduct primary research to validate our assumptions.

Propose the Goal

Given our company's focus on expanding into new markets, I believe the goal is to create a line of vending machines that cater specifically to the unique needs of hotel and motel guests, increasing our market share in the hospitality sector. Does this align with your vision?

Define the Scope

For this product design challenge, should we focus on developing a smart, connected vending machine that integrates with hotel systems and offers personalized experiences for guests?

Based on the answers, I'll assume we're proceeding with designing a smart vending machine for hotels, with a 6-month timeline for an MVP rollout, leveraging our existing manufacturing capabilities but requiring new research into hotel guest needs.