Steam power, electric power, computers, all advances in technology that made formerly dominant organizational models and business processes obsolete. A lesson that has been learned over and over again is that you can’t leverage the power of new technology with business models designed for old technology.
The disruptive benefits of the transition from steam to electric power were only realized when business processes were completely reimagined to leverage the new technology. Steam-powered factories had to be arranged around the limits of the driveshaft of a single massive power source. Electricity allowed factories to reorganize on the logic of the production line. Reaping the gargantuan benefits required a change in everything in the business process: factory architecture, machine placement, production flow and worker hiring and compensation.
So what does this have to do with developing software?
The old model for software was a precision machine. Like a Swiss watch it worked reliably and changed only in slow carefully managed incremental steps. It is a paradigm ill-equipped for a new business environment that rewards speed and destroys those slow to react to change. That need for speed and responsiveness to the ever increasing velocity of the connected world has spawned a new paradigm for software: a living organism that is constantly adapting to its environment. Unlike the old model that was inwardly and technology focused. The new paradigm is outwardly focused and counts technology as only one component in a big picture agile process of continuous improvement that is ultra responsive to a constantly changing environment.
At Intelifaz we develop systems of engagement. Apps, dashboards and platforms that engage customers, vendors and employees. We know from long experience it takes a lot more than solid error free code to guarantee a successful outcome which is why we begin every project taking a holistic 360 view of the customers goals, business process, culture, and the needs of every user persona and stakeholder.
In an era of ubiquitous connectivity users have little patience for any digital experience that falls short of their daily experiences with Facebook, Amazon, Uber and other widely used consumer apps. When designing and developing systems of engagement, UX and UI design based on user personas and project goals should be driving the technology not the other way round. As all systems of engagement are focused on influencing some aspect of human behavior, culture and anthropology trumps technology in development.
After the discovery phase where user personas, user journeys and the optimal technology stack is defined, an MVP (minimum viable product) is identified that can be deployed in the shortest time frame and at the lowest cost possible. An MVP should be a major milestone, but only the first step in an iterative process of feedback and continuous improvement. This is critical in transforming your software from a rigid inflexible machine to an agile living organism, continuously changing based on new data.
The Key to Success
This iterative process is critical to your product success. You should invest and ensure that your internal and external stakeholders are committed to it. Make sure your development resources are flexible enough to be able to match the ebb and flow of your ever changing development needs. Some months the changes and resources required will be minimal and at other times you may have large changes that require a lot more resources. Development talent is expensive and is usually the activity that is most resource consuming.
Enabling rapid cycles of innovation and change in your business is what our agile 360 degree approach is all about. The digital experience is rapidly evolving, keeping ahead of the curve is an ongoing and challenging process for business. Our twin focus on the end user experience and an ongoing agile development process are key to your success in the new normal.
Have a question, want a free Strategic Assessment or just want to chat about your businesses needs and challenges? Contact Us.