First principles thinking in product management is a problem-solving approach that involves breaking down a problem into its fundamental parts and then reconstructing them to arrive at a unique solution.

🌟Three basic principles of First principles thinking:

1️⃣ Curiosity: Asking questions and digging further to understand how those systems work i.e. the '5 WHYs analysis' why things are and how to fix it.

Example: Development of the iPhone.
When Apple was designing the iPhone, it did not simply try to improve on existing smartphones. Instead, it took a first principles approach and asked itself the following questions:

-> What is the essence of a smartphone?
-> What are the fundamental principles that underlie a smartphone?
-> How can we build a smartphone that is better than anything that currently exists?

-> Why are traditional cell phones so complex and hard to use?
Traditional cell phones have multiple buttons and menus, which can confuse users.
-> Why do smartphones need a home button?
Because it provides a way to navigate the operating system and return to the home screen.
-> But is there a better way to do this?
Yes, we could use gestures or facial recognition.
-> But will users be able to learn and remember these new gestures?
Yes, we can design the gestures to be intuitive and easy to learn. We can also provide feedback to users to help them learn the gestures.
Result: They challenged the assumption that a smartphone needed a physical home button.

-> Why does smartphone need to have a physical fingerprint sensor?
Because it provides a secure and convenient way to unlock the device.
-> But is there a better way to do this?
Yes, we could use facial recognition.
-> But will facial recognition be secure and convenient?
Yes, we can develop a new facial recognition system that is both secure and convenient.
Result: They developed a new facial recognition system called Face ID.


2️⃣ Empathy: Getting an intuitive sense for the lived experience of other people, especially customers. Listen to users and get their direct experience and feeling about your idea.

Example: Platforms like Airbnb excel in empathizing with their users. They pay attention to the direct experiences and feelings of hosts and guests, which results in features and services that cater to their desires.


3️⃣ Serenity: This is your ability to accept things that you cannot change. Instead of resisting or battling against unchangeable factors, this principle encourages adapting and finding opportunities within the boundaries.

Example: DoorDash moving to suburbs without competitors demonstrates serenity. They recognized that competing in a saturated urban market might be challenging, so they strategically shifted their focus to areas with less competition, enabling them to establish a strong presence.