Get your WHYs right with the 6Qs Method

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Ever felt like your project is a riddle where everyone has an opinion on the HOW but forgot the WHY?

Jumping to the HOWs and forgetting to formulate the WHYs is a fundamental problem when starting a new project. Plus, it’s costing your project more than just time.

To make sure everyone is focusing on the same solution, a well-defined and cohesive project description helps all sides. Product Managers can clearly explain their vision and goals, while other team members - designers, developers, …heck, even the big bosses - can better understand the project and the problems it aims to solve.

When your teams aren't in sync, it's not just about missed deadlines – it's about missed opportunities.

Fiverr uses "The 6Qs Method," an adapted version of the Five Ws, to define projects and ensure alignment and agreement among all team members. The 6Qs document is then revisited throughout the project to ensure the product stays on track and any changes are communicated to everyone.

Understanding the 'why' behind a project is crucial. It sets a clear direction and prevents premature solutions. The 6Qs method is a powerful tool that ensures that everyone on the team understands the project's goals, motivation and scope.

Here are the six questions that form the core of the 6Qs method:

• 1st Question: What is the problem/opportunity?No more shooting in the dark. Identify the core issue or opportunity the project aims to address, ensuring it's specific and user-focused.This is the most important question, you have to define the problem correctly.
• 2nd Question: What data supports this?Fact-based discussions, not assumptions. Gather relevant data to validate the existence and nature of the identified problem or opportunity.
• 3rd Question: What is our hypothesis? (If we do X then Y will happen)Predict and plan, don't just react. Formulate a hypothesis predicting how the proposed changes will impact user behavior or solve the problem.
• 4th Question: What will be the impact?Set clear, measurable goals. Define expected outcomes and how they will affect key metrics like conversion rates, user experience, etc.
• 5th Question: Who is it for?User-centric always wins. Specify the target audience or user persona that the project is designed to benefit.
• 6th Question: How will you measure success?Define it, achieve it. Determine the metrics and criteria that will be used to evaluate the success of the project.

That’s it! Now that everyone has a shared understanding of the problem, it's time to get busy.

You have a teams that speak the same language, design that hits the mark, and products that resonate with users.

If the solution doesn't solve the user's problem, go back to the drawing board and focus solely on the problem. The cycle repeats until the solution is achieved.

This isn't just about avoiding missteps; it's about working more efficiently and developing quality solutions.

Looking for a more in-depth information that delves into the 6Qs method?

? Read my recent article that dives into this method in more depth

P.S. I recently spoke with Yael Shamir Zalmanov, Product Group Manager at?Fiverr, for the inaugural Product Builder podcast episode, and she shared her experiences and the rich lessons learned along the way. She also talks about the 6Qs method - ??? Tune in to hear the full episode on Spotify (Available in Hebrew).

Eyal David, founder of UserFlowzz, turns tech startup ideas into market-leading products people love. We pride ourselves on a client-first approach, ensuring every step - from onboarding to executing both minor tasks and major features - aligns perfectly with your workflow, like the missing piece of your operational puzzle.

Connect with Eyal on LinkedIn or email [email protected] to see how your startup can benefit.