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Experiment Planning Worksheet

Use when you need to answer: "What is the smallest test that would meaningfully change our confidence?"

Design the smallest reliable test for the riskiest assumption before committing further investment.

Core Question

  1. What is the smallest test that would meaningfully change our confidence?

What to Document

  1. Hypothesis: 'We believe [customer] will achieve [outcome] by using [solution]. We will consider this supported when [evidence] reaches [threshold] within [period].'

  2. Riskiest assumption, target participants, method, procedure, timeline

  3. Data to collect, pass threshold, fail threshold, decision rule

Common Mistake to Avoid

  1. Running an experiment that produces interesting data but was never designed to end in a decision.

Illustrative Example

  1. Pilot the follow-up suggestion feature with 10 account managers for 3 weeks; consider it supported if 24-hour follow-up completion improves meaningfully without excessive correction burden.

Output of this stage

The riskiest assumption, not the easiest one, is being testedPass and fail thresholds are set before the data comes inThe decision that follows each outcome is already defined
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