A former Microsoft executive reflects on the value and methodology of studying competitor products firsthand. The post outlines common mistakes in competitive analysis — such as superficial usage, thinking from your own context rather than the competitor's, and treating the competitive landscape as static — and offers practical approaches including feature comparisons, SWOT analysis, scenario testing, and writing mock press releases for competitors. The core argument is that deep, immersive use of competitor products is essential for everyone on a product team, not just a staff function, and should be an ongoing obsession rather than a checklist exercise.
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