Comments on: How many customers does a software product manager need to visit/interview? http://productmanagementtips.com/2009/09/09/software-product-manager-customer-visit/ Practical software product management tips Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:10:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: HHY in the Valley http://productmanagementtips.com/2009/09/09/software-product-manager-customer-visit/#comment-1658 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:43:08 +0000 http://gopalshenoy.wordpress.com/?p=760#comment-1658 I didn’t read the book. But by simple calculation using some of sample size calculator online, I would imagine what Edward uses is following assumption
– margin of error (if 65% say yes, still could be 50-50 split) = 15%
– population (total customers in that market segment) = 2000

So my interpretation is that you will have 70% confidence to say that those 12 customers reflects the population. Even that if you can get 2/3 of them (9) saying they want it, you still have 30% of chance that most of your targeted customers don’t need it.

]]> By: themadpeacock http://productmanagementtips.com/2009/09/09/software-product-manager-customer-visit/#comment-1405 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:44:12 +0000 http://gopalshenoy.wordpress.com/?p=760#comment-1405 10 is what I consider minimum but the numbers you post from the book are accurate in my experience. Its diminishing returns the more you do.

I also find that face-to-face is more valuable than videoconference, videoconference is more valuable than phone and email is useless (almost).

How do you feel online surveys fit into this picture?

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