MVP
(or M P)
whoami
Jiří Tůma
* Generation Y (Millenials)
* AVG (tester … product manager)
* Y Soft (chief product manager)
* Organist, Pianist
* Economy as a way to understand things
Minimum
Viable
Product
Object.
Service.
Object +
Service =
Success?
Theory bites
Taylor, Mayo, Maslow, Herzberg
• Motivation theories of workers (and people in
general)
Eyal
• Book: Hooked
• Why people use things over and over again? How
to make use of the knowledge in product design?
Maslow Herzberg
Viable
• Practical (Reasonable)
• Valuable
• Feasible (possible)
• Successful
Consider perspective of: Buyer/User,
Vendor/Dealer
Buyer, User
• Practical (Reasonable) – does it help me
achieve my goal (make my life easier)?
• Valuable – is it worth buying (what about
alternatives)?
• Feasible (possible) – can this be done
differently?
• Successful – will it make me successful?
Vendor, Dealer
• Practical (Reasonable) – does it help me
achieve my goal (earning more)?
• Valuable – is it worth the investment/risk?
• Feasible (possible) – can this be done
differently?
• Successful – will people buy this? will we get
the xyz benefit from it, e.g. brand awareness?
Many FeaturesFew features
Not Viable
Viable
Lot of things built up-front
Long feedback cycle
Luck needed, maybe required.
Don’t bother at all.
Waste of time and
money.
Minimum Viable
Product
No one will buy the
product
When you think you have MVP…
Idea/Hypothesis: Create hypothesis and objective
metrics.
E.g. People are scared of losing precious time doing
things without purpose.
Build: Always think about different solutions, that deliver
value (note: code may not be the best answer!)
Validate: Seek the target audience and validate whether
your theory is valid or not. Learn something new.
Rinse, repeat. Try, fail if necessary, but learn and try
again.
When you think you have MVP…
• How well do you know what they truly need?
Key aspect: Minimize loop time –
get feedback faster.
Ideas
Build
Product
Measure
Data
Learn
Exercise (pt.1)
Split into groups of four/five people.
Write down at least five products or services you use on
daily basis. Choose wisely.
E.g. Refridgerator, Internet service, Lightbulb, Car, House
No phones, computers, cars, facebook, google. Think
both technology and services. The more abstract you go,
the harder it will be.
[5min.]
Exercise (pt.2)
Link the products with a stakeholder role or
context. Find some catchy name .
E.g. When I move from place A to place B.
“Placemover”.
Note: Not “Jiri”, but “tutor”. Not “Marie”, but
“mother”.
[10min.]
Exercise (pt.3)
Individually write down 3 reasons (rational,
irrational, emotional) why you use this. Remember
the Maslow/Herzberg.
Discuss in the team.
E.g. Car is faster than train. I enjoy not driving. I love
looking at nature at the speed of 60kmh.
[10min.]
Exercise (pt.4)
Now you understand each other’s view of the
very same product/service.
Think of 2 alternative solutions to what your
peers value. Explore beyond feasibility, no
boundaries.
E.g. Light-travel. Personal driver (Uber). Baloon-
flyover.
Exercise (pt.5)
Discuss the alternative solutions with peers.
Evaluate from three different aspects:
• (Valuable) Would you choose to use or buy it?
– “Negative pricing” – how much does it cost you
not to use it?
• (Usable) Do you know how to use it?
• (Feasible) Can it be delivered when it’s
needed?
Show and tell!
• Stakeholders, roles, context:
• Values:
• Solutions:
• Usability, Value and Feasibility:
Few more things…
• Testing MVP is great validation tool
• Focus on all key stakeholders
– The buyer/user (is it valuable and usable?)
– The vendor/dealer (is it feasible and sustainable?)
• Build, Validate (Measure), Learn and repeat.
Some examples
• MVP vs. established market – how to fail
– Focused too much on all quality aspects, not the
key ones
• MVP vs. established market – how to succeed
– Product does one job best (from the eyes of enduser),
instead of all jobs best
– Quick build and verification
– Other ways to innovate (e.g. business model)
Minimum Product
• MVP
The version of a new product that brings back the
maximum amount of validated learning about
your customers with the least effort.
• MLP
The version of a new product that brings back the
maximum amount of love from your early tribe
members with the least effort.
Thank you.
jiri.tuma@ysoft.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jirituma