Why do we create Software - Roman Pichler

Why do we Create Software?

Roman Pichler

@romanpichler

romanpichler.com

★ JAX London, October 2014 ★

About me

•  Product management consultant, trainer, and author –  More than 10 years experience in teaching and coaching product

managers and helping companies apply agile prac;ces to achieve business success.

–  I once managed to earn a living from wri;ng soAware.

•  Business and product owner –  I try and walk my own talk

2 © 2014 Pichler Consul;ng Ltd

One of my books

Artwork by Ole Størksen

What programmers want:

http://www.h4-entertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/coding-powers.jpg

What managers want:

http://www.etlsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Planning-for-a-data-migration-project.jpg

What we need:

http://images3.alphacoders.com/623/62375.jpg

We have a great idea. Why should we bother

with a vision?

“If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision

pulls you.”

But how do we know that the software will add

value?

What’s in it for the company?

What is the business model?

Business goals

Enter the Product Strategy

What makes

the product

unique?

What are its key

features?

Market

Value proposition


Why would they use

the product?

Why would they buy it?

Who are the customers?

Who are

the users?

A Tool. We need a Tool.

What? Why? Who? Why & how?


Vision Board for the Dance Game


Users: Children aged 8 to 12; interested in music and dancing; play computer games regularly; have access to iPad.

Customers: Parents; affluent; own iPad.

Have fun interacting with characters and making them dance to music.

iPad app with a cast of characters, dance floors and music:

•  Customise the characters and the dance studio.

•  Play together with remote players.

•  Choreograph new dances.

•  Share dance studio via social media.

Business goal: Open up a new revenue source, diversify.

Business model: Fremium

•  Basic version free. •  In-app purchases to

generate revenue.

Help children enjoy dancing and music.

Are we done? Can we code now?

Test your Strategy!


1. Select the biggest risk

2. Decide how to address it

3. Collect the data

4. Analyse results and

make changes

Pivot?

Pivot Explained

•  The product strategy is invalid – Wrong target group or wrong needs or – Solu;on not feasible or – Business model not working

•  Decision: Abort or change? •  Pivot early, fail and learn fast

– Fail-‐safe environment: failure is an op;on


Pivot!

Pivoted Vision Board


Users: Children aged 8 to 12; interested in music and dancing; have access to the Internet.

Customers: Parents; own a computer/tablet/smartphone.

Want to learn to dance or new dance moves.

E-learning tutorial:

•  Video-based simple

instructions. •  Wide range of

music and dance styles.

•  Record and share dance performan-ces.

Business goal: Open up a new revenue source, diversify.

Business model:

•  Pay per session. •  Subscription.

Help children enjoy dancing and music.

Let’s build it.

Artwork by Ole Størksen

Summary

•  Work on products that you find exci;ng and ensure that everybody has the same vision.

•  Understand the value the product creates for the users and customers and for the business.

•  Life is too short to work on products that nobody really wants and needs.


Product Planning Training


Register at h]p://www.romanpichler.com/training-‐courses/

Charity and startup discount

available!

Download the Vision Board at:

romanpichler.com/tools/vision-board

I look forward to your feedback and questions:

[email protected]

@romanpichler

Thank You!


Presentations & Public Speaking

Why do we create Software - Roman Pichler