Exercise: pick a topic and interview stakeholders

Choose one product area and stick with it for the course. Examples: handicrafts, security products, plant nursery, watches, clothing, eyewear, toys, sports, healthcare, gift shop, pet care, grocery, furniture, shoes, bags, or home appliances.

Domain knowledge means understanding the content and current trends in that space. Visit websites in the domain and install a few related mobile apps so you have a starting point.

Desk research uses information already available online. An expert interview means talking to someone who already knows the domain when you need sharper answers.

• List two or three top competitors (for example Flipkart and Amazon for general shopping, or BookMyShow for movie tickets).
• Note whether the idea is B2C (selling to individual consumers) or B2B (selling between businesses).

Write answers as if you interviewed the product owner. Use a Google Doc or any notes file. Include every heading below.

• Description — what the app is in one clear sentence (for example: an e-commerce app to sell bags online).
• Objective — why it exists (for example: one place to buy household products online).
• Business goal — how it makes money (sales, ads, bookings, in-app purchases).
• Target audience — age, gender, location, income, education, profession, interests.
• User role — what the person does in the app (buyer, listener, booker, and so on).
• Competitors — who you are comparing against.
• Business model — B2B or B2C.

If you can talk to a real stakeholder, use these. If you are inventing a practice project, answer them honestly as the owner.

• What is the objective of this app?
• Who is the target audience?
• What is the business goal?
• How and where will the app be used?
• What is the user role?
• What are the requirements?
• Who are the competitors?
• Is the model B2B or B2C?

Here is a short stakeholder interview document for a practice app called Bazaar. Use the same headings in your own file — your answers can be longer.