What is the art and science of data-driven decision-making? It’s not just a matter of plugging in Optimizely and running a few tests, nor is experimentation a “checkbox” exercise. It’s a mindset, and one that can have a dramatically positive impact on your products. In this webinar, LexisNexis Product Leader James Rubinstein talks about how experimentation can make your products better.
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Webinar Notes:
- James is a Senior Director of Data and Analytics at LexisNexis.
- James highlights the importance of data-driven decision making as a product manager.
- A/B testing is valuable for validating ideas, challenging assumptions, and improving the user experience.
- An example from Amazon demonstrates the power of data in successful feature implementations.
- A/B testing involves formulating hypotheses, defining success criteria, and tracking metrics.
- A/B testing is iterative and crucial for continuous product improvement.
- Avoid complexity and overthinking in statistical analysis and experimentation.
- Focusing on a specific goal metric is essential, and statistics help understand user behavior.
- The time factor in experiments is important, as is accurate analysis based on the affected user population.
- Experimentation mitigates risks and enables continuous improvement.
- Examples from eBay, Apple, and Pinterest illustrate the benefits of experimentation.
- Start small with third-party services and using tools like Google Analytics and Google Optimize.
- Product managers should explore experimentation to address product issues and challenges.
- Building an A/B testing platform drives cultural change and improves product decision-making.
- Embracing uncertainty and learning from failure are crucial.
- Metrics play a significant role in measuring success and driving outcomes.
- Running A/B tests when making difficult or unethical changes requires alternative approaches.
- Estimation protocols and canary or dark launches can be used in such cases.
- Measuring non-normally distributed data can be done through median, nonparametric tests, permutations tests, and linearization techniques.
About the speaker
James Rubinstein is an advocate for data-driven decision making as a way to make better products. He has a Master's degree in Human Factors Psychology from Clemson University. He has been a product manager, statistician, and data scientist (sometimes all at once!) at eBay, Apple, and Pinterest. Currently, he is the Senior Director of Data & Analytics at LexisNexis Legal & Professional, where he tries to make decisions more data-driven. He lives in Raleigh, NC, with his family, a couple dogs, and a fleet of hoopties.
About the host
Rishikesh is a Sr. Product Leader at Instacart. He has 10+ years of field knowledge at some of the most prestigious product companies in the world. He enjoys working on product development from the bottom-up and seeing products come to fruition.