Optimizing Compromises
Compromises have to be made many times along the way in order to get a project to launch. Unfortunately, sometimes we’re unable to have every detail baked into a product for its initial release and we have to circle back later to implement the full vision.
Compromises can happen for variety of reasons, any new release has a lot of stakeholders. We have to work with the needs of design, research, business, development and most importantly the user. The constraints of a new project can quickly add up, making the vision of a project’s launch more and more narrow.
With everyone’s input we can create a list of acceptance criteria for a project. This list will be the guide to all questions and developments of the project until launch. The list criteria and process of creating the list creates opportunities.
Networking with Stakeholders
As the criteria for a product’s launch are laid out, you have the opportunity to work with all areas of the company. This collaboration will help create the project’s requirements, but most importantly it helps build relationships across the company. Building relationships with other areas of the company helps fuel an effective team. The team will be more likely to work together to help reach others needs for projects. When all areas of the company are able to work together and understand each others’ needs, an optimal initial launch can be created.
A Path to Follow
The hardest part of any new project is that it is limitless. Without a set of requirements to be met, we have access to infinite ideas and solutions. We’d never get anything done without requirements. Projects would continue to expand until they’re insurmountable and then they’d never launch. The process of discovering acceptance criteria can be tedious but it will save time in the end. With the requirements laid out, teams can focus on creating the best experience that meets everyone’s needs for launch.
Focus on the User
Putting in the time to research how users can benefit from a new product and understanding how they will use that product will create a clearer vision of how to reach the release. Talking with users will help teams discover what needs to be in a product’s launch in order for it to succeed. Research also helps define what doesn’t have to be in an initial launch and what can wait for the product update. When the user is included in all decisions of a project, teams will be able to work together to create a product that meets business needs and user needs.
Work Towards the Future
Working out the requirements for an initial launch creates a lot of discussion. Sometimes we may find that because of the many forces at play, the first release of the product may not be what was planned initially. This is okay. Because team members have been working closely together and building relationships across the company, they can talk about the ideal vision of the project post-launch. Knowing the limitations for the first iteration of the project will help lay out the plans for the next update. Having the foresight of what the project will be, motivates members of the team. If we recognize the limitations of the initial launch and know the future goals, we can think of the first release as just the first step towards the ultimate vision for the product.
