Prism Decision Systems

  • Email
  • RSS
  • HOME
  • THE EIGHT KEYS
    • Buy Now
    • Reader Praise for the Eight Keys
  • BLOG
    • Papers
    • Readings
You are here: Home / Agile software / Getting apps done

04/05/2013 by Sean Brady

Getting apps done

  • By Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Tait, Decision Mechanics Limited

Not one, but two, interesting posts from the blog Jury.me this week.

One is about focusing on the user. Too many apps are developed from a technical perspective — the latest frameworks, user interface widgets, etc.

Great software products come from standing in your users’ shoes — trying to understand their goals. Why do they need this product?

BenchmarkerMarketingScreenshot

Often it’s the product no one notices that is doing the best job. I have a radio next to my desk. It doesn’t look very impressive and doesn’t have many features. But I only listen to one station, so all I need is great reception — and it does that one thing really, really well. Great product.

It has been said that “the best user interface is no interface.” Indeed.

The second post that stood out was about the importance of shipping. This is related to focusing on the user — you learn a lot about your users when you put a product in their hands.

Shipping is one of the hardest things for a software developer to do. It’s easy to keep enhancing, extending and polishing — give in to “feature creep.” But, your product only comes alive through use. And until you have people using it, you don’t know if you are polishing something valuable.

This is were the concept of the “Minimum Viable Product” is useful. What is the minimum functionality you need your product to have before you ship it? What’s the minimum functionality that your users need? Build that, tidy it up, ship it and then be prepared to learn.

Enlist users. Find out what they need and let them try out your interpretation of that need as soon, and as often, as you can.

Share this post:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pocket
  • Pinterest
  • Print

Related

Filed Under: Agile software Tagged With: agile development, Apps, innovation

Like What You’re Reading? Subscribe Today!

Contact

[email protected]

Buy Now!

You Are What You Decide is now available in paperback and for all e-Readers.

BLOG: SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Blog: recent posts

Prism Decision Systems, LLC: 25 fulfilling years

Resilience in three steps: endure, adapt & thrive

How to run successful virtual decision-making meetings

The power of Amazon’s press release and FAQ protocol

Leadership during a pandemic: Joseph McShane, S.J.

Blog: all posts

BLOG: SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Contact

Sean Brady
President
Prism Decision Systems, LLC
[email protected]

 

Search this website

Connect

  • Email
  • RSS

Copyright © 2022 · Prism Decision Systems, LLC · [email protected]

 

Loading Comments...