Data-Driven vs Data-Informed vs Data-Inspired: Which Should PMs Use (and When)?

Should product managers be data-driven, data-informed, or data-inspired?

Answer (use this decision rule):
• Data-driven when the problem + success metrics are clear and repeatable (let the data “drive”).
• Data-informed when context matters and you must balance qualitative + quantitative inputs (data guides, you decide).
• Data-inspired when you’re innovating with limited data and need discovery, creativity, and fast validation loops.

In this Productside Product Management Leadership Series session, Rina Alexin (CEO, Productside) and Todd Blaquiere (Principal Consultant & Trainer, Productside) show how to pick the right approach for the situation—without falling into vanity metrics or bias traps.

What you’ll learn:
• 3 practical archetypes: Data-driven Dan, Data-informed Inga, Data-inspired Imogen
• What “data” really includes: qualitative vs quantitative (and how they work together)
• Clear definitions + pros/cons of each approach (speed vs context vs innovation)
• The bias checklist PMs must watch for:
Confirmation bias, recency bias, authority bias (HiPPO), anchoring, survivorship bias
• How to mitigate bias and make better decisions under constraints (time, resources, data availability)
• How to choose KPIs beyond “usage” using engagement dimensions:
Depth, Breadth, Frequency, Paths, Sentiment, Feedback
• Real Q&A guidance:
How to say “data-driven” on your resume (show impact, not buzzwords)
How to scale data gathering (often fewer inputs than you think)
What to do when leadership confuses usage with success

280 Group is now Productside.

Featured speakers:
• Rina Alexin, CEO, Productside
• Todd Blaquiere, former Principal Consultant & Trainer, Productside, and Chief Product Officer, BetterRX

About Productside:
Productside (formerly 280 Group) is an outcome-driven product partner helping teams build products that matter through training, consulting, and advisory services.
Learn more: https://www.productside.com

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