In the tech world, there’s a quirky yet profound phrase that often makes the rounds in boardrooms and developer circles alike: “Eat your own dog food.” This peculiar saying carries significant weight and wisdom, advocating for a practice that can dramatically impact a company’s product quality, credibility, and customer satisfaction. But what does it really mean to “eat your own dog food,” and why is it so important? Let’s explore this concept in depth.
A Personal Journey into Tech and Dogfooding
My journey as a technologist began in the late eighties, a time when programming was both a burgeoning field and a wild frontier. I cut my teeth on Basic, Fortran, Pascal, C, C++ and then Clarion, navigating the early days of software development on the Commodore 64 and then PC using Microsoft, OS/2 and Netware OS products. It was during this formative period that I first encountered the phrase “eat your own dog food.” As I tinkered with code and grappled with the nascent stages of software design, the idea of using our own creations to ensure their quality resonated deeply with me. This principle became a cornerstone of my approach to technology, shaping my understanding of product development and user experience.
Origins of the Phrase
The phrase “eat your own dog food” is believed to have originated in the 1970s or 1980s within the tech industry, although its precise origins are somewhat murky. One popular story attributes the phrase to Mike Murray, a manager at Microsoft, who used it to describe the importance of using one’s own products to ensure their quality. Another tale links it to a 1970s Alpo dog food commercial, where actor Lorne Greene touted the quality of Alpo by claiming he fed it to his own dogs.
Regardless of its exact origins, the phrase has since become a staple in tech jargon, representing the principle that companies should use the products they create.
What It Means to “Eat Your Own Dog Food”
At its core, “eating your own dog food” means using your own products or services in your daily operations. For software companies, this might involve employees using the company’s software for their work. For a manufacturer, it might mean employees using the products they produce in their personal lives.
This practice serves several critical functions:
- Quality Assurance: When employees use the company’s products, they are more likely to notice bugs, flaws, and areas for improvement. This firsthand experience can lead to quicker identification and resolution of issues, resulting in a higher quality product.
- Empathy and Understanding: Employees who use the products themselves develop a deeper understanding of the user experience. This empathy can drive more user-friendly design and functionality, as the employees are directly impacted by any shortcomings or frustrations in the product.
- Credibility and Trust: When a company uses its own products, it sends a strong message to customers: “We believe in our product.” This practice can build trust and credibility, showing customers that the company stands behind its offerings.
- Internal Feedback Loop: Using the product internally creates a constant feedback loop where ideas for improvements can be tested and refined quickly. This iterative process can foster innovation and ensure the product evolves in line with user needs.
Examples of Dogfooding in Action
Microsoft: As one of the early adopters of the dogfooding concept, Microsoft has long used its own software products internally before releasing them to the public. This practice has helped the company refine and improve its offerings, ensuring they meet the needs of both employees and customers.
Google: Google is another prominent example, with employees regularly using beta versions of new software and features. This internal testing helps catch bugs and usability issues before products reach a wider audience. Google’s “Google Labs” was a public-facing extension of this principle, allowing users to experiment with early-stage projects.
Atlassian: The makers of Jira and Confluence, Atlassian uses its own collaboration tools extensively within the company. This commitment to dogfooding has driven continuous improvements and ensured their products remain highly functional and user-friendly.
Challenges and Limitations
While the benefits of dogfooding are substantial, the practice is not without its challenges and limitations:
- Bias and Blind Spots: Employees may develop a biased perspective, becoming too familiar with the product and overlooking issues that might be obvious to new users. External testing remains crucial to capture a diverse range of user experiences.
- Resource Allocation: Dogfooding can require significant resources, as employees need time to test and provide feedback on the product. Balancing this with regular duties can be challenging.
- Scalability Issues: Products that work well for a company’s internal environment might not scale effectively for broader, more diverse user bases. Testing under varied conditions remains essential.
Best Practices for Effective Dogfooding
- Encourage Honest Feedback: Create a culture where employees feel comfortable providing candid feedback, both positive and negative. This openness is essential for identifying and addressing issues.
- Diversify Testing Groups: Include a wide range of employees in dogfooding efforts, from different departments and with varying levels of familiarity with the product. This diversity can help uncover a broader spectrum of issues and insights.
- Regular Updates and Iterations: Use the feedback gathered from dogfooding to drive regular updates and improvements. Iterate quickly and keep the product evolving based on internal experiences and feedback.
- Complement with External Testing: While dogfooding is valuable, it should complement, not replace, external user testing. Engaging with real customers provides insights that internal use alone cannot capture.
Conclusion
“Eat your own dog food” is more than just a quirky saying, it’s a powerful practice that can enhance product quality, foster innovation, and build trust with customers. By using their own products, companies can gain invaluable insights and ensure their offerings meet the highest standards. While it presents challenges, the benefits of dogfooding make it a practice worth adopting for any organisation serious about creating exceptional products. So, next time you hear someone mention dogfooding, remember: it’s about committing to quality, understanding your users, and continuously improving through firsthand experience.
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