The software development industry is known for its fast-paced nature and constant focus on delivering new features and updates. However, this drive to constantly deliver can sometimes result in a lack of attention to quality and user experience. Many teams still rely on velocity as the primary measure of success, which can be an indication of a lack of real metrics.
When teams prioritize velocity over other metrics, they are more likely to focus on shipping as many features as possible, without paying close attention to the quality of those features. This is where the concept of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) can become problematic. While an MVP can be a great way to test a product idea and get feedback from users, it should not be an excuse for delivering reduced quality or ignoring UX research.
When teams don’t prioritize iterations during the next sprints, they can end up creating a pile of design debt.
Waiting until a product is “ready” before fixing issues can also be a costly mistake. The cost of making changes increases over time, and it’s much cheaper to change an idea than an almost completed app. In fact, if the core idea of an app is misguided, learning that just before launch can be too late.
One of the reasons this happens is that many companies are feature-oriented and engineering-driven, with the typical process involving some people deciding which features to build for customers based on surveys or customer support complaints. The product then decides which features to prioritize, and UX designers are given requirements, user stories, or other information prepared by Product or Business Analysts.
To avoid this issue, teams should switch from being feature-oriented to being task-oriented. Rather than starting with an idea and working to implement it, they should start with research to ensure they are addressing a real problem and targeting the right audience. This approach can also help identify areas where a product can be improved and make it easier to prioritize tasks that will have the biggest impact on the user experience.
In conclusion, while the drive to constantly deliver new features and updates is understandable in the fast-paced software development industry, it should not come at the cost of quality or user experience. Teams that prioritize velocity over other metrics and rely too heavily on the concept of MVP risk create design debt and missing opportunities for improvement. To avoid these issues, teams should prioritize research and a task-oriented approach to product development.
