8 Things to Consider Before Developing Your Next Product: Part 2
When developing a new product, success is rarely ‘found’. Rather it is fostered and created through the right combination of skill, support, expertise, and experience. It also helps to be in the right place at the right time with a good dash of luck.
Following on from part one; here are the final four things to consider before developing your next product.
5. Stakeholders
Stakeholders are the people who have a vested interest in your project. They make up the extended part of your team. They might not be right in the face of the action, but they still play a key role in your projects’ overall success.
Understanding who they are and what they value in the context of what you are trying to achieve is essential. Stakeholders will vary across every project, but are likely to stretch across disciplines including design, marketing, intellectual property, regulatory, management, quality and manufacturing.
Remember that different stakeholders will have different priorities and needs and values will almost always conflict. Communicate and agree upon expectations early, but also consistently throughout your project.
6. Communication
"The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place" - George Bernard Shaw.
Communication can be an incredibly powerful tool. But it can also be complicated and difficult, especially when dealing with multiple stakeholders with competing interests.
Never leave items open for interpretation. Plan to communicate clearly and always communicate back what was discussed and agreed via email. You’ll sleep better at night knowing your discussions have been documented and everyone is working with you towards the same goal.
7. Understand the product development process
It can be tough to know where to start and how to navigate the product development journey. For most, conceptualising an idea and developing it all the way through to realisation is an entirely new and unfamiliar experience. It can be a long road and you don’t want the original product vision to get lost along the way.
Ask your product development and design firm about the product development process. At ide we’ve been there before and we know the right questions to ask. We want you to succeed and we’re in it together with you every step of the way.
Product development can sometimes seem like an enigmatic process, but don’t be afraid to ask questions, get involved and actively participate. And be wary of firms who take a closed door approach.
8. Have fun! Be passionate - all or nothing
Product development is hard. Things happen that you don’t expect, testing tells you things that you don’t want to hear, people might tell you what they can’t do rather than what they can.
But don’t give up, persistence is the key. Make a list of all of the reasons why you started your project and the difference that it will make and keep it in your pocket. Never lose sight of your end goal.
"The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all!" - Richard Branson.
Join the discussion over at ide Connect