The Early Bird Corners The Market

An important aspect of an agile methodology is the concept of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), however its something we often seem to get wrong.

An MVP should have just enough features to allow it to be usable and no more, this focus on minimalism allows,

• Rapid deployment to users to allow feedback on the potential (or not) of the product.
• A reduction in the amount of time engineers waste in the early stages of the project or non-core features that aren't critical to viability of the proposition.
• Form the basis for the learning that will allow the product to iterate.

Size Matters

Bells and whistles have no place in an MVP, there's no point polishing a product that has yet to prove its worth to consumers.

Speed is the essence of MVP, starting to get feedback early so that the concept behind the product can be validated before too much resource has been consumed in producing it should be the goal of these early iterations.

Mistaken assumptions about what consumers want has sunk many a good product idea, consumers are difficult to predict getting early validation of the concept is key.

What Use is it?

An MVP should not be a small part of something larger, it should stand up up on its own as a product but be reduced in the scope of its functionality to just enough to make it fulfil a purpose for the consumer.

A consumer using your MVP doesn't have to share your vision about what the product could become in the future, they will not forgive a lack of usefulness now on the promise of a well oiled solution that may be a long way down the road. 

Getting feedback from consumers wanting more features proves there engagement with the concept behind the product, allowing iteration to the next MVP.

The worst type of feedback is the silence from apathetic consumers who don't see the usefulness of your product.

Don't be afraid to ship, consumers who are on-board with how a product can be useful to them will often forgive some rough edges.

The Goldilocks Effect

MVP represents a sweet spot of doing just enough to produce something viable but not wasting resources in developing more than is needed to start the validation process.

Trying to apply a sliding scale where minimalism can be traded for viability either wastes the consumers time by presenting them with a product that has no benefit, or wastes resources by producing features that aren't key to the viability of the product, once again delaying consumer validation.   

So be the early bird, have a good understanding of the proposition your presenting to the consumer, get there feedback early and often by being lazy and always doing just enough.