Proposing a New Yelp Functionality

Requirements Clarification & Assessment

1. Understanding Existing Features:

   • Familiarize yourself with the current functionalities of Yelp, especially how restaurant reviews and ratings work.
   • Identify any existing mechanisms for users to highlight specific dishes or services.

2. Identifying User Needs:

   • Recognize the need for users to quickly identify highly-rated dishes without sifting through lengthy reviews.
   • Consider scenarios where users have specific dish preferences but limited time to read reviews.

3. Target Audience:

   • Determine if the feature is primarily for casual diners looking for quick recommendations or for food enthusiasts seeking the best dish experiences.

4. Pain Points:

   • Users struggle with decision fatigue due to an overwhelming number of options.
   • Difficulty in identifying the best dishes from reviews that focus more on overall restaurant experiences.

5. Technical Constraints:

   • Assess Yelp's current data collection capabilities and how they can be adapted to support dish-specific ratings.
   • Evaluate the challenges in integrating new data types, like specific dish votes, into existing systems.

6. Stakeholder Input:

   • Gather insights from Yelp's business and marketing teams to understand how this feature aligns with broader business goals.
   • Engage with restaurant owners to gauge their interest and potential concerns about dish-specific ratings.