Team Ratios Sabotage Customer Obsession

Companies are employing product team roles — designers, researchers, engineers, and product managers — at levels that limit their ability to deliver products that meet customer needs. Our 2023 data shows that for every designer, product teams have 18 engineers, 14 product managers, and less than one researcher. When brands overemphasize engineering, they risk building products that won’t get used; when product managers dominate, companies risk focusing on business needs at users’ expense. Design and research teams translate user needs and research insights into useful and used experiences, so don’t shortchange your product or service by eclipsing these valuable team members.