Data-informed decision making

Product managers blend quantitative data with qualitative insights to make decisions. They analyze user behavior metrics to identify problems and opportunities. Where do users drop off? Which features drive retention? What correlates with satisfaction? But data alone rarely tells the complete story. PMs complement analytics with user interviews, support tickets, and sales feedback to understand the "why" behind the numbers. They recognize that data can mislead through selection bias, small sample sizes, or missing context.

Effective PMs ask probing questions about data sources and limitations. They also know when to trust their judgment despite conflicting data, especially when dealing with innovative features where past behavior might not predict future adoption. The goal isn't data-driven but data-informed decision making.