Continuous Discovery Habits: 8 key ideas
The core ideas of Continuous Discovery Habits, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.
- IDEA 1 OF 8
Discovery should be continuous
Torres defines continuous discovery as teams talking to customers at least weekly while working on product.
Small, regular research beats rare, big research projects done once in a while. Habits matter.
- IDEA 2 OF 8
Product trios decide together
Torres recommends that a product manager, designer and engineer make discovery decisions together.
This trio brings different views and shares ownership of what to build. No one decides alone or in isolation.
- IDEA 3 OF 8
Start with a clear outcome
Teams should focus on a measurable outcome, such as improving user retention, rather than a list of features.
The outcome guides what problems and opportunities the team explores. Features are means, not ends.
- IDEA 4 OF 8
Map opportunities in a tree
Torres's opportunity solution tree connects the desired outcome to customer needs and then to possible solutions.
It helps teams see options clearly and choose where to focus. Structure helps prioritise.
- IDEA 5 OF 8
Interview for real stories
Torres suggests asking customers to tell specific stories about past experiences, rather than asking what they want.
Stories reveal real needs and behaviours more reliably than opinions. Specific stories beat general opinions.
- IDEA 6 OF 8
Compare several solutions
Torres advises considering multiple solutions for each opportunity instead of falling for the first idea.
Comparing options leads to better decisions and avoids confirmation bias. Having options improves the final choice.
- IDEA 7 OF 8
Test assumptions, not whole ideas
Torres recommends identifying the risky assumptions behind a solution and testing them quickly.
Small tests are faster and cheaper than building complete features. Learning becomes cheaper, quicker and less risky.
- IDEA 8 OF 8
Show your thinking to others
Torres encourages teams to share their discovery work with stakeholders, explaining how they reached decisions.
Visible thinking builds trust and invites useful feedback. Openness reduces unpleasant surprises for everyone later.
Get one idea like this every daySwipe through ideas, go deeper on any of them, and save the ones that matter. Free.
Read Continuous Discovery Habits in the app