What Design decisions should Product have the final say in? How do you bring clarity to this?

Product should have final say on decisions that directly influence measurable user behavior and business outcomes. For example, if we’re debating the complexity of a signup flow, product might decide based on data how many steps are acceptable to optimize activation rates. Clarity comes from openly defining who’s responsible for what.

At Zoom, our triad approach means roles are explicit: design leads on UX quality, engineering leads on feasibility and performance constraints, and product ensures that the final direction serves the overarching growth and business goals.

Documenting a RACI framework and repeating it often ensures everyone knows who has the last word, reducing friction.

How to bring clarity:

• Set explicit roles in a decision-making framework.

• Keep a decision log accessible to everyone.

• Align these roles early, so each debate is guided by a known process.