The Ahh Test is a model to help us make better decisions. It is a binary feel good signal for decision making that helps everyone stay focused on the goals that matter.

When we make better decisions, it leads to better products. It is easier said than done. You can't just tell someone to decide better. It helps to have strategies to improve the results you are seeking.

We naturally have many goals as part of our work. We may have a bigger vision to work towards, but it helps to break down goals down into more actionable parts.

With The Ahh Test, the goal is to make decisions that pass The Ahh Test.

A goal may also be to build a good product, in line with business needs, goals and visions.

We may be tasked to find ways to achieve goals that are clear, whilst others are more broad. Clear goals could be to reduce customer support requests by 10%. Broader goals could be to raise our brand, find efficiency gains, work towards a unified platform. Sometimes specific goals arise as we work towards broad goals.

When we think of The Ahh Test, it will pass when we understand that the decisions we are making will help us towards our goals. It will naturally fail when we realise that the decision won't help us.

✅ It passes: if it makes people go "ahh, that feels good" or "ahh, this decision feels aligned with where we are going'. On the understanding that the 'feels good' that it helps us achieve our goal. It helps us to understand whether we’re on the right track and whether the implementation will make our lives better.

❌ If it fails, if it causes doubt, misalignment, stress, anxiety or unnecessary complexity. These are all a signal to question or reconsider the decision we are looking to make.

The Ahh Test enables higher quality products because it questions what matters in what we are building. Quality is not just about building something that works. It's about building the best thing you can, given the system constraints.

A good product isabout building something that:

Whilst we might say that The Ahh Test passes or fails. That's not the point. The Ahh Test is about the interactions and the decisions made as a result. Ultimately The Ahh Test creates understanding.

The Ahh Test is about building in alignment by normalising whether the actions we are taking today make sense. Does it feel right? How are we feeling? Does it make sense? Is there anything that feels out of place?

Don't confuse ahh, with ah, aah, aw or awe. What's the difference? I'll share more about that in a Moment.