We walked this organization through our proven approach to: 1.) Prioritize organizational goals, 2.) Discover process gaps impacting those goals, 3.) Implement project management and product development techniques to close identified gaps, and 4.) Repeat this process to create a loop of continuous improvement. This organization’s technical team was top notch; an outstanding blend of innovators and engineers. All they were missing was some focus and a few additional resources to take their award-winning technology into the Cloud.

 

The first step was using our Product Charter template to get everyone on the same page and aligned with overall organizational goals. Often overlooked, a product (or project) charter answers important questions that everyone on the team needs to understand and rally around (e.g. Why are we building this product? What are the key features?).

 

Next, we customized our Product Development Checklist for their particular needs. This template ensures that an organization is completing all of the key tasks and deliverables required for a successful product launch, such as Intellectual Property considerations, supplier selection, market positioning, Beta testing, and a maintenance/service plan. The checklist also assists in building out a product schedule and resource plan, plus assigning clear ownership to each required step. This particular product development plan exposed a shortage of Cloud-based technology and web user interface development expertise necessary to launch the product in the required timeframe.

 

Next, we led an RFP to select a cloud technology provider.  We drafted a request for proposal, review bids, and select a supplier. This is a common issue for startups with limited resources, and we have the experience to help identify and fill these gaps.

 

Now that the product development team was established we utilized Agile techniques and stood up a Scrum team, with Greenshaw Consulting filling the ScrumMaster role, to perform the day-to-day development work. While some consultants will push Agile on an entire organization, and enforce Agile or other methodologies with a strict adherence to the rules, Greenshaw Consulting understands that startups don’t always have the desire or need to be beholden to a methodology. Every startup has to break the rules sometimes; we are there to work with you to achieve your goals with whatever process works best for you, not just force you into a solution. 

 

A few sprints into the project, some major feature changes emerged. This wasn’t discovered by accident; the team was living by the Agile manifesto statement, “Working software over comprehensive documentation.” By quickly building out and demoing the first few features defined in the product charter to the key stakeholders, more valuable features were uncovered. We worked across stakeholder functional areas (Marketing, Finance, Sales, etc.) to quickly develop a new plan, build consensus, and update the product development checklist. Once the team approved the plan, development was back underway.