27 November 2024

by Max Acke

What is an MVP? Still successful for Software development or not?

For software developers, this MVP drawing is a very clear representation of iterative and incremental development of a web application.

MVP explained at a glance

This fantastic drawing has been circulating the world for 10 years, it explains at a glance the difference between:

work on one product for a long time until it is completely ready and only then can you start using it

<=>

start quickly with a product that is already functional, on which you can provide feedback and that is being further developed: we call this quickly testable and simple product an MVP = Minimum Viable Product

For software developers, this is a very clear representation of iterative and incremental development of a web application.

The customer's assignment is: “I want to get from A to B and I want to do that with a car”.

In a software development project, the car is a metaphor for a complex web application.

Much better application in small steps

It has now been proved that we can build a much better application if we can do this in steps, as opposed to a long development that only produces a working product at the end.

Before the car is completely ready, we immediately start driving the route from A to B to gain experience and create opportunities to provide feedback.

We quickly develop a skateboard and based on the customer's tests and feedback with the skateboard, we can further develop it into a scooter.

If we travel the route a second time, but then with the scooter, we again receive feedback to adjust and improve the construction of the ideal car at each intermediate step.

The faces show the customer's feelings and satisfaction

In the classic, long development process of the car, the customer is waiting and unhappy throughout the entire process.

With the MVP approach we see that the customer is involved much earlier and systematically becomes happier as the application continues to improve and become more finished.

With the MVP approach you also see that not only is the end result better/more attractive, but customer satisfaction with the final end product is higher.

2014 => 2024

Although the drawing is still relevant in 2024, you notice that a lot has changed in the world since the drawing was made in 2014.

To begin with, a customer is not always satisfied to start with the skateboard because they focus on the appearance/experience that is not yet very impressive and beautiful.

Even when we switch to the scooter, a customer quickly wants too many bells and whistles that do not actually belong on the scooter.

In addition, we must also say that in our busy traffic today, a car is certainly no longer the ultimate means of transport for all our journeys, a scooter or bicycle is often much better!