Agile Bites

Next up in our MVP series, we're talking about schedule and cost—two related elements that can trigger essential pivots in your project. In this episode, host Phil Ledgerwood shares practical insights on estimating timelines, development costs, and additional considerations such as infrastructure and promotional expenses. Learn how these factors play a pivotal role in making informed decisions about your MVP. 

How do you decide which features should make it into your MVP? When people first think about MVPs, usually this is the point they jump to (side note: if you haven't listened to our previous episodes in our MVP series yet, go back and listen to those first!) With countless feature options and probably many strong opinions, it can be challenging to narrow down what features you should invest in for your first MVP.  In this episode, Host Phil Ledgerwood shares the framework and exercises he uses to help define MVP features with that will be valuable for future decisions about your product.

Forget about software for a second and think about what your user actually wants to accomplish. Why would they want your software in the first place? What are you helping them to get done more easily than they could without your software?   Those questions are what you should be thinking about when it comes to user journey—not screens or features. Because your users don't inherently care about those things. They just want to accomplish whatever they need to get done in a way that makes sense to them.   In this episode, Host Phil Ledgerwood explains the importance of user journeys and what you need to think about as you go about understanding how your users will best interact with your product.

Next up in our series about MVPs, we're talking about personas. To know if people are going to use your product, you first have to understand the people you would be building the product for—because no product can be built for “everyone.”  In this episode, Host Phil Ledgerwood breaks down MVP personas into three parts: identifying potential users, understanding them, and empathizing with them. When you truly understand your potential users, that knowledge helps you build a product that serves your users better—and that should be your ultimate goal.

In the next episode in our series about MVPs, we're talking about the vision: the thing that guides, outlines the scope, and captures the value of the MVP.   Everything we do in the MVP needs to be geared towards the vision—not towards your idea of the final product. If it’s extraneous to the vision, it’s extraneous to the MVP. Sticking to the vision will keep you from wasting time and money on features that aren't necessary to validate the core of your product.

After 67 episodes, it's about time we talk about the MVP—Minimum Viable Product. There are a whole lot of conversations online about what an MVP is and what it isn't. We're not setting out to define it once and for all. Instead, we're taking you through the same process we go through with our clients in this special series about MVPs. And this first episode is all about the “what” and the “why” behind this framework that can help you validate a product idea before putting a full investment into it.

Explore the final assumption of Little's Law and its emphasis on consistent units in agile practices. Learn how uniform measurements in calculations can prevent confusion and inaccuracies. Discover the significance of choosing the right units for work forecasting, balancing detail and transparency to enhance communication. Gain insights into making your project evaluations more meaningful and reliable. This discussion highlights how good measurement practices are key to successful planning and collaboration in agile environments.

Explore the intriguing nuances of Little's Law, especially around the average age of work-in-process (WIP). Discover why maintaining a steady average is crucial for improving team workflows and efficiency. The conversation dives into common misconceptions and outlines the potential pitfalls of fluctuating averages. Unpack how these insights can lead to better forecasting and enhanced value delivery. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to refine their understanding of workflow management.

Explore the intriguing implications of Little's Law in Agile systems. Discover why maintaining constant work in progress (WIP) is crucial for balance. Learn how WIP stability enhances planning and predictability, ensuring that your project flows smoothly without burnout or stagnation. Engaging analogies and practical strategies illuminate how to efficiently manage workloads in your team.

The discussion revolves around the challenges teams face when starting tasks but failing to finish them. It highlights the importance of meaningful commitments and how managing them can build trust. Strategies for effective user story management are presented, focusing on smaller, actionable deliverables. Additionally, the podcast emphasizes the role of sprint goals in Scrum for maintaining team focus and ensuring efficient progress. The overall message stresses that completion should take precedence over merely starting tasks.