Innovation for Existing Software Product: An R&D Approach

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Innovation for an Existing Software Product : An R&D Approach Aaron Barrett - Infusionsoft

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The Problem

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Successful Innovation with R&D – a Framework

•  Create R&D Team •  Send R&D Away •  Bring R&D Back •  Actively Engage “Regular” Developers •  Develop with Go-To-Market Strategy in Mind

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Create R&D Team

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Create R&D Team

•  Smaller is better

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Create R&D Team

•  Smaller is better •  Some Devs do well in R&D setting, some don’t

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Create R&D Team

•  Smaller is better •  Some Devs do well in R&D setting, some don’t •  Appropriate skillset mix

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Create R&D Team

•  Smaller is better •  Some Devs do well in R&D setting, some don’t •  Appropriate skillset mix •  Consider team leadership and oversight

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Send R&D Away

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Send R&D Away

•  Freedom is important

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Send R&D Away

•  Freedom is important •  Constraints are important

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Send R&D Away

•  Freedom is important •  Constraints are important •  Agree on clear problem statements

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Send R&D Away

•  Freedom is important •  Constraints are important •  Agree on clear problem statements •  Test, test, test

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Bring R&D Back

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Bring R&D Back

•  Prepare to get buy-in

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Bring R&D Back

•  Prepare to get buy-in •  Data is important

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Bring R&D Back

•  Prepare to get buy-in •  Data is important •  Don’t over promise

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Actively Engage “Regular”Devs

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Actively Engage “Regular” Devs

•  Don’t ever call them “regular devs”!

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Actively Engage “Regular” Devs

•  Don’t ever call them “regular devs”! •  Everyone will want to be on the new thing

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Actively Engage “Regular” Devs

•  Don’t ever call them “regular devs”! •  Everyone will want to be on the new thing •  Celebrate importance of revenue generating code work

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Actively Engage “Regular” Devs

•  Don’t ever call them “regular devs”! •  Everyone will want to be on the new thing •  Celebrate importance of revenue generating code work •  Clearly communicate roles and expectations to all devs

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Actively Engage “Regular” Devs

•  Don’t ever call them “regular devs”! •  Everyone will want to be on the new thing •  Celebrate importance of revenue generating code work •  Clearly communicate roles and expectations to all devs •  Prepare for everything to change

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Develop with Go-To-Market Strategy in Mind

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Develop with Go-To-Market Strategy in Mind

•  Get out of “prototype” mode

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Develop with Go-To-Market Strategy in Mind

•  Get out of “prototype” mode •  How are we going to sell this?

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Develop with Go-To-Market Strategy in Mind

•  Get out of “prototype” mode •  How are we going to sell this? •  Will existing users need to migrate?

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Develop with Go-To-Market Strategy in Mind

•  Get out of “prototype” mode •  How are we going to sell this? •  Will existing users need to migrate? •  How important is backwards compatibility?

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In Summary

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In Summary

•  Create R&D Team •  Send R&D Away •  Bring R&D Back •  Actively Engage “Regular” Developers •  Develop with Go-To-Market Strategy in Mind

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Questions?