Minimum Viable Product FAIL!!!
There are some amazing MVPs out there. This, alas, is not one of them :(
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There are some amazing MVP examples out there. Alas, this isn't one of them! When I made this cup holder, I told myself is was a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Now I'm not so sure.
Let's break it down:
1. Is it a PRODUCT? It is in the sense that it was produced for a specific end user (Me!) And it's more than a prototype: it's been primed and painted and varnished.
2. Is it MINIMAL? Not really. This part is made of oak. If you know your timbers, you'll know that oak is a hardwood. Hardwood means that it's (a) expensive and (b) difficult to work.
3. Is is VIABLE? It's not terrible. It's easy to "park" a cup. And it holds the cup securely. But it has problems: difficult to pick up without spilling; no dust protection.
Here's the thing: I could have discovered these shortcomings without making a not-so-minimal not-so-viable MVP. A quick and dirty PROTOTYPE would have done the trick.
Music: 260809 Funky Nurykabe: ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/29186
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51. Minimum Viable Product FAIL!!!
#DevelopmentThatPays
Minimum viable Products. There are some great examples out there. but today we're going to look at a really bad one. Hi this is Gary Welcome to Development That Pays I like to think that I know a fair bit about working in an AGILE way. I even know a little bit about working in a LEAN fashion. But I don't always DO what I KNOW. And today I want to show you a perfect example of me NOT doing what I KNOW. It's in my shed. And that's where we'll be heading... just as soon as I've made a nice cup of tea. All done. Let's go. Here we are. Not as untidy as usual - I must have been expecting you ;) Just pop my tea here. It's actually this cup holder that I've brought you to see. When I made it, I told myself is was an MVP. Now I'm not so sure. Let's break it down. Is it a PRODUCT It is in the sense that it was produced for a specific end user (Me!) And it's more than a prototype: this back panel has been primed and painted. And this bit has been varnished. That's more work than I would ever do for a prototype. What about Minimal Not really. This part is made of oak. If you know your timbers, you'll know that oak is a hardwood. Hardwood means that it's expensive. It has maans that it's hard - difficult - to work. This part here is angled. I don't have a power tool to do this - it had to be shaped by hand. And I can tell you it took ages. Finally, is is VIABLE It's not terrible. It's easy to "park" a cup. And it holds the cup securely. (Shame this is the only cup it works for.) There are a couple of things there are less than ideal: If I'm not careful and I jam my cup in too hard, when i pick it up the whole thing comes off. There's then a danger that I spill my tea, perish the thought! The second issue is to do with the environment. I work with wood. And power tools. That means sawdust. Lots of it. It goes everywhere, including into my tea. A holder with some sort of cover would have been a good idea. Here's the thing: I could have discovered these shortcomings without my not-so-minimal not-so-viable MVP. A quick and dirty PROTOTYPE would have done the trick. Thank you very much for watching If you enjoyed this episode please give it a thumbs up. if you hated it, give it a thumbs down - that's good too. If you'd like more videos like this, there's a new episode of Development That Pays each and every Wednesday. Click the big red button... and I'll see you on the other side.
• Minimum Viable Product FAIL!!!
• The Lean Approach: Minimum Viable Products