J.E.D.I. mindtricks to build better products by Lisa Mo Wagner

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Introduction

With the impending release of the new Obi-Wan series, it feels like the perfect opportunity to delve into how Jedi mind tricks from this beloved universe can guide us towards building better products. While we won't be delving into the mystical, there's an important truth to be found in applying our interpretation of 'JEDI': Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

The JEDI Approach to Product Development

Let's first clarify the key components of our JEDI approach for building better products:

Diversity encapsulates all of our differences, which can either offer advantages or pose barriers to opportunities. Some distinctions are immediately noticeable, like race - but many other important aspects of diversity aren't as readily apparent.

Inclusion emphasizes fostering a sense of belonging by centering, valuing, and amplifying the voices, perspectives, and styles of those who typically encounter more barriers due to their identities.

Equity underscores allocating resources so everyone can access the same opportunities. Recognizing that advantages and barriers exist enables us to strive toward more equitable outcomes.

Justice revolves around dismantling barriers, paving the way for broader access to resources and opportunities.

Including a Diverse Range of Perspectives

Our consumer base brims with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. As such, it's pivotal we approach product development inclusively, ensuring our creations cater to this diversity. Even simple diversity awareness helps us better predict the potential impacts of our offerings.

The Dimensions of Diversity

Many dimensions of diversity that impact product success lie 'below the waterline of visibility.' This metaphor serves to highlight the diversity facets outside of the easily noticeable ones like gender, race, or ethnicity.

Overcoming Bias

In the world of tech, it's easy to slip into the mindset that we have extensive knowledge about our customers' needs. However, we need to remember one crucial point: "we're experts in technology, but our customers are experts in their own lives."

Several examples litter tech history where developers failed to design with their customers in mind. This lead to disastrous product launches that lacked inclusivity and displayed surprising bias.

Addressing Privilege

It's important to understand the privileges your team has and the perspectives that are missing. This understanding allows the team to actively seek out this missing input and ensure they're creating a more inclusive product. An excellent tool for navigating this process is the 'Privilege Canvas'.

But, inclusion doesn't stop at the brainstorming phase. We need to consider inclusivity and work on addressing bias throughout the product development lifecycle. The questions we continuously need to ask ourselves in this process could include:

- Will our product impact small local businesses?
- Who are we excluding with this product?
- What assumptions are we making?
- Can we compensate our interviewees better for their time?

Conclusion: The Force of Inclusion

The force of inclusion should not be an afterthought in product development - it has to be at the core. As product developers and managers, it should fall on us to make sure everyone is heard, considered, and catered to because everyone deserves a chance to live a full and dignified life - the ultimate goal of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion- truly a Jedi mind trick worth mastering.


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