ADEPT is a lightweight product discovery framework designed to identify problems with early-stage product and process ideas, focusing on what is known, unknown, and where to prioritize.
Unlike other discovery frameworks that require extensive documentation, ADEPT can be quickly completed on a sticky note in a few minutes once understood.
The emphasis on evidence in ADEPT helps combat biases and directs attention to factual knowledge behind conclusions, aiding in decision-making.
ADEPT factors include Attractiveness, Doability, Effectiveness, Practicality, and Targetability, guiding the evaluation of ideas based on different criteria.
Alex applied ADEPT to a product dashboard idea, which uncovered the need for real-time performance tracking, leading to a shift in focus and increased interest from product teams.
By addressing knowledge gaps in each ADEPT factor, teams can identify a discovery path that makes sense for specific ideas and make progress by updating assessments.
Through assessing attractiveness, doability, effectiveness, practicality, and targetability, Alex transformed hunches into evidence-based decisions, ultimately gaining support for the idea.
Discovery is about risk management and reaching a comfortable level of risk before progressing, with ADEPT helping to expose unknowns for informed decision-making.
Utilizing varying levels of evidence in ADEPT, from anecdotal to statistical, allows for a structured approach to evaluating ideas based on the quality and reliability of information.
Discovery serves as risk insurance, reducing the likelihood of building unsuccessful solutions by investing time and resources upfront to minimize potential losses from failed initiatives.
While aiming for informed decisions, it's acceptable to proceed with educated guesses when risks are low and more evidence is sought when significant resources are involved.