Domain Context
This skill implements a proven product management framework. The approach combines best practices from industry leaders and is designed for practical application in day-to-day PM work.
Input Requirements
- Context about your product, feature, or problem
- Relevant data, research, or constraints (recommended but optional)
- Clear articulation of what you're trying to achieve
PMF Survey (Product-Market Fit Survey)
What It Is
The PMF Survey is a method to measure and systematically improve product-market fit. The core insight: you can put a number on product-market fit, and you can use that number to write your roadmap.
The key question: "How would you feel if you could no longer use this product?"
- Very disappointed - "I'd be devastated. I need this."
- Somewhat disappointed - "I'd be bummed but I'd find something else."
- Not disappointed - "I wouldn't really care."
Sean Ellis discovered that companies with 40% or more "very disappointed" responses almost always grew successfully, while those under 40% struggled. This benchmark has held across thousands of companies.
Rahul Vohra at Superhuman took this further: he built an engine that uses survey responses to algorithmically generate a roadmap guaranteed to increase PMF score.
When to Use It
Use the PMF Survey when you need to:
- Quantify product-market fit before making major investment decisions
- Decide whether to pivot or double down
- Prioritize your roadmap based on what will actually move the needle
- Identify your best customer segment (who loves you most)
- Track PMF over time as you iterate
- Make the case to investors with data, not gut feeling
When Not to Use It
- You have fewer than 30 active users (sample too small)
- Users haven't had enough time to experience value (survey too early)
- The product is employer-mandated (users had no choice)
- You want to validate a hypothesis without building (use JTBD instead)
Resources
Articles:
- *How Superhuman Built an Engine to Find Product-Market Fit* by Rahul Vohra
Books:
- *Hacking Growth* by Sean Ellis
- *The Lean Startup* by Eric Ries