Product development, an alternative to software development
This post is a continuation of a previous one. We recommend reading the first part here first.
When dealing with product development project we have many new variables to consider in contrast with software projects. As we are now focused on the value that the products add, we have four main concerns.
- Focus
- Understand
- Deliver
- Reinvent
Focus
From the very beginning is important to focus on what matters, and avoid spending effort on unnecessary tasks from the very beginning. At made2 our very first step is to define the Product Vision. This tool is so important that we have made a specific article for it.
“I’m as proud of what we don’t do as I am of what we do.”
— Steve Jobs
Understand
Every business behind a product has its business model. Usually using a software product as a channel to delivering value to the customer. Aligning a development team with a shared organizational vision has a huge impact on the result.
I would like to share a part of Nick Tune’s article, you should read it!
“Passion is one characteristic of successful developers. Enjoying coding is, in my opinion, necessary to be good. But understanding how businesses work, how we can make customers happier, and how we can help the business to execute their vision as efficiently as possible leads to a whole new level of productivity. It’s the code you don’t write that can make you orders of magnitude more effective.”
“Software projects fail when you don’t understand the business domain you are working within well enough. Typing is not the bottleneck for delivering a product; coding is the easy part of development.”
— Scott Millett in Patterns, Principles and Practices of Domain-Driven Design
Deliver
On product development, we need to shine in one aspect, the time to market.
Once you are already focused and understand the business context you will be able to define and prioritize correctly your first requirements. Every piece of new functionality you add to a product is nothing more than a hypothesis, that will finally validate by the user.
At this point, you are ready to deliver an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) within your budget in the shortest time possible. Why delivering fast is so important? Because the final user is the one to decide what is right, what should be improved and what is wrong.
Reinvent
No one should be afraid of definitions along the way as this is not a road without turning back. The magic behind every success is reinvention. In the beginning, you will be uncertain about which is the right way, but there is no better option than trying, validating and reinventing.
“The genius is not in the idea but in the ability to reinvent”.
— Rafael Del Corro
Conclusion
Not everyone is ready for dealing with a product development project, as there are key aspects that need to be well handled in this journey as communication, leadership, alignment, involvement among others. On the other hand, it is not easy to expect value rather than functionalities for a product owner.
No one has the real truth from the very beginning, but being aware of this is a powerful tool for improving our journey on product development.
