Rapid Prototyping - a good idea for Startups - battling the human condition

Rapid Prototypingis a good idea for startups

@BBC_News_Labsat the International Startup Conference

Ravensbourne, LondonMarch 2014Powered by BBC Connected Studio

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RAPID

PROTOTYPING

what is it?

• A method to TEST YOUR IDEA

• QUICKLY

• in REAL LIFE

• and LEARN from it

RAPID

PROTOTYPING

process

1. select your MINIMUM FEATURESET to “test your unique idea” *

2. CREATE your simple working prototype

3. TEST it with real people in real life**

4. LEARN, make some changes, and do it again to test changes

* Select 1-3 goals, and prioritise features against these. Then choose BARE MINIMUM – see “MVP” literature.** Use real data if possible, and test on people who know nothing about your idea.

RAPID

PROTOTYPING

why is it good?

• Prevents costly mistakes

• Gives you surprising insights

• Helps refine your ideas early & efficiently

RAPID

PROTOTYPING

background

• IT IS NOT NEW(“prototype” comes from greek word πρωτότυπον for “early form”)

• IT’S QUITE COMMON(Most agile development work and Lean Startup principles are rooted in prototyping)

• BUT …. easy to NOT DO(if we are not careful, we will tend to revert to human nature)

RAPID

PROTOTYPING

WE SHOULDMAKE SURE

WE DO ITBECAUSE

WE ARE HUMAN

with human TENDENCIES.

In the absence of Rapid Prototyping, we will:

• ask people “WHAT DO YOU WANT?”,…and

• fester in ANALYSIS PARALYSIS & discussion, and

• TWEAK & REFINE FOREVER…

SO,IN ORDER

TO ACHIEVEPROGRESS

ANDSUCCESS

we need to FOCUS

ANDOVERCOME

THE MOST POWERFULHUMAN CONDITION

THEFEAR ofFAILURE

SOMETIMES

so do not waste time worrying!

motto

1. THINK BIG

2. START SMALL

3. ACT QUICKLY

process, again.

1. select your MINIMUM FEATURESET to “test your unique idea” *

2. CREATE your simple working prototype

3. TEST it with real people in real life**

4. LEARN, make some changes, and do it again.

* Select 1-3 goals, and prioritise features against these. Then choose BARE MINIMUM – see “MVP” literature.** Use real data if possible, and test on people who know nothing about your idea.

RAPID

PROTOTYPING

Thanks

@BBC_News_Labs

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