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description: Validate a product concept by manually simulating functionality behind the scenes
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# Wizard of Oz Test

Test whether users want a product by having humans secretly perform the work that technology would eventually do. Use when building the real thing is expensive and you need to validate demand or UX before investing in engineering.

## Steps

1. **Define the interaction** — specify what the user sees and does.
2. **Design the facade** — build a realistic-looking front end (UI, chatbot, form).
3. **Set up the backstage** — define the manual process, assign operators, create scripts/playbooks.
4. **Run the test** — let real users interact while operators fulfill requests manually in real time.
5. **Measure and learn** — track usage, satisfaction, willingness to pay, and time-to-serve.

## Output Format

A test plan describing the facade design, backstage operations playbook, success metrics with targets, test results summary, and a go/no-go recommendation with supporting data.
