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Simulated Delivery
Wizard of Oz
A simulated version of a product or service is presented to users as if it were fully functional or automated. A human operator manually performs the underlying tasks to deliver the expected outputs, while users interact with the system unaware of the manual intervention. The team observes user reactions and feedback to gather evidence.
When This Method Fits
Typical duration
Days – Weeks
Typical cost
Low – Medium
Fidelity level
Live Limited
Stage
Feasibility, Validation
Hypothesis type
Desirability, Feasibility
Goal type
Find product-market fit, Deepen product-market fit, Maximize societal impact, Drive corporate innovation / R&D, Improve operational efficiency
Randomization
N/A
Study design
Individual case report
Minimum units needed
10
1Best Fit When
Best when you need to test a fully-automated product concept's real user reception before investing in building the actual automation.