Resource Articles | Associo Software

Prototyping Show DetailsHide Details

Being a part of the product development process for three different companies in the 90s and early 2000s, I was shocked at how much money they spent on things they really had no clear feedback from actual users. Part of the reason for this lack of research was that there was just so many resources available to us. Investors and venture capital firms were just pouring money into dot coms with nothing more than a snazzy business plan. Today, even well funded companies don't have the luxury of endless resources. This forces us to realize that we don't have all the right answers, and it forces us to ask our customers questions. And try out new things with our customers. The result is a product that isn't perfect, but evolves quickly. Companies like Google are really embracing this model of bringing products to market quicker and hence getting feedback from customers quicker. Which means the product grows and becomes more useful. And isn't this the goal. I don't want to create a product that needs a lot of marketing to sell it. I want to create products that are useful! Products that are really needed...products that actually sell themselves. I recently read an article at Small Business Guru defining this new type of product development as a prototype business model. The article gives some great perspective on why prototyping is so critical for organizations today. It is true for us at Associo Software, but it is also true for associations. Is your association embracing prototyping to find new and innovative ways to meet your member's needs? If you don't, how will you stay relevant? How will your services really stay useful, even necessary? In a down economy, associations are seeing their members cut budgets and some decide to cut out money that would be going to the associations for training or even for member dues. Now more than ever you need to make sure what you do is mission critical to your members. I don't know anyway other way of doing this than trying new things and getting lots of feedback. It seems we all need to embrace the business model of prototyping. Posted by: Eric Jones

Months

Jan 2009
Dec 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008