name: discovery-interview-patterns description: When gathering requirements for new features or projects. Used by DISCOVERY-AGENT. version: 1.1.0 tokens: ~450 confidence: high sources:
- https://www.nngroup.com/articles/interviewing-users/
- https://productschool.com/blog/product-fundamentals/what-is-product-discovery last_validated: 2025-12-10 next_review: 2025-12-24 tags: [discovery, requirements, interview, planning]
When to Use
When gathering requirements for new features or projects. Used by DISCOVERY-AGENT.
Patterns
Question Categories
Problem Space
- What problem are we solving?
- Who experiences this problem?
- What's the impact (cost, time, frustration)?
- How is it solved today?
Solution Space
- What does success look like?
- What are must-have vs nice-to-have features?
- What constraints exist (tech, budget, timeline)?
- What's explicitly out of scope?
Technical Context
- What existing systems must integrate?
- What tech stack is required/preferred?
- What are performance requirements?
- What security/compliance needs exist?
Clarity Scoring
Score each answer 1-5:
1 = No answer / "I don't know"
2 = Vague / conflicting
3 = Partial clarity
4 = Clear with minor gaps
5 = Fully clear and actionable
Target: Average ≥3.5 before proceeding
Batch Questions (Max 7)
Present max 7 questions per round.
Wait for answers before next batch.
Prioritize blocking questions first.
Anti-Patterns
- Asking leading questions
- Assuming requirements without validation
- Skipping "why" questions
- Too many questions at once (>7)
- Not validating conflicting answers
Verification Checklist
- Problem clearly defined
- Success criteria measurable
- Scope explicitly bounded
- Constraints documented
- Average clarity score ≥3.5
- All stakeholders consulted