Data can only tell you the gradient, not where to go.

  • Data can only tell you the gradient, not where to go.
    • If you just follow the gradient, then you'll random walk through the problem domain.
    • If it's short-term data, (e.g. UXR for acceptance testing for a given feature you're prototyping) then the random walk can be very frenetic.
      • It's better to have data that is medium-term, to smooth over that noise.
    • Instead, sight off your northstar: where you want to approach in the long term.
    • Then, pick the gradient that is steepest that brings you towards the north star.

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