{"id":967,"date":"2014-12-31T06:00:36","date_gmt":"2014-12-31T14:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.thinkapps.com\/?p=967"},"modified":"2015-02-10T15:14:27","modified_gmt":"2015-02-10T23:14:27","slug":"lean-startup-methodology-simplified","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinkapps.com\/blog\/entrepreneurship\/lean-startup-methodology-simplified\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn Before You Build: Lean Startup Cycle In Reverse"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Lean Startup Methodology<\/a> (LSM) is one of\u00a0the most popular ways for startups to create products nowadays. Its iterative learning model lays out a logical way to progress how a product gets built.<\/p>\n

In order to succeed using the LSM, it’s important that everyone in your company is on the same page.<\/p>\n

One way to learn the LSM\u00a0is to read books and blogs by experts on the topic. But that takes time. If you had to get to the essence of the LSM fast, without it seeming like some new complex thing, you would need a different approach.<\/p>\n

This framework consists of 2 elements:
\n1. Understanding the core of what the LSM is about, and
\n2. Using this understanding to reframe the\u00a0Build-Measure-Learn cycle<\/a>\u00a0in much simpler terms<\/p>\n

1. The core of the LSM:<\/h2>\n

The LSM is about measurable outcomes. Only if outcomes are measurable, can you act on them in some logical way. Understanding this concept is key towards being able to implement (and internalize) this methodology.<\/p>\n

Here’s an example to ensure we\u2019re on the same page: \u201cIncreasing sales\u201d is not measurable. \u201cIncreasing sales by 20%\u201d is.<\/p>\n

This may seem obvious to many. But in my experience, not everyone is geared towards operating in an outcome-based manner (at least not by default).<\/p>\n

2. Reframing the LSM cycle:<\/h2>\n

When you look at the LSM cycle, it\u2019s laid out sequentially\u00a0in terms of Build-Measure-Learn. The central idea is to get through this loop as quickly as possible to validate a hypothesis (or\u00a0vice versa).<\/p>\n

\"Simple<\/a>
\nImage credit<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

There are\u00a0multiple things you can do, or consider, at each stage of this loop to help you get through it quicker.<\/p>\n

\"Lean<\/a>Image credit<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

But rather than talk about this cycle as it\u2019s commonly understood, I think it\u2019s easier to understand it\u00a0in reverse.<\/p>\n

In other words, rather than describing it in terms of Build-Measure-Learn, talk about it as Learn-Measure-Build. The reason for this is that learning can only happen from measurable outcomes. Starting with outcomes also\u00a0makes it easier to understand how you got there and what to do about it.<\/p>\n

To crystallize this idea, we can co-opt Simon Sinek\u2019s \u201cStart With Why\u201d<\/a> idea to reframe the reverse LSM loop.<\/p>\n

\"start-with-why-book\"<\/a>
\nImage credit<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Sidebar: If you\u2019ve never seen his\u00a0TED Talk<\/a>, stop everything you\u2019re doing and watch it now.<\/p>\n

As in Sinek\u2019s talk, the simplest representation of his idea is this bull\u2019s-eye diagram.<\/p>\n

\"Why<\/a>
\nImage credit<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

If you superimpose Sinek\u2019s idea on to the steps of the LSM loop, these simple questions map wonderfully like this:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \u201cWhy\u201d: \u201cWhy is the result of this test significant (or not)?
    \nThis is nothing but \u201cLearn.\u201d<\/li>\n
  2. \u201cHow\u201d: \u201cHow do we know that we got this result?\u201d
    \nThis is \u201cMeasure.\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. \u201cWhat\u201d: \u201cWhat\u2019s that (minimum) thing we did that led to this result?\u201d
    \nThis, of course, is \u201cBuild.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This Sinek-LSM cycle mashup then looks like this\u2026<\/p>\n

    \"Sinek-LSM<\/a>
    \n    Original image credit<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    If you flip this mashup by looking at the classic LSM Loop you get this\u2026<\/p>\n

    \"Reverse<\/a>
    \n    Original image credit<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

    I think looking at the LSM cycle in reverse, in the context of simple Why, How and What-based questions frees you from having to understand the LSM as a new concept. And because you start with the outcome (or Why), it makes it much easier to understand what Build-Measure-Learn (or rather Learn-Measure-Build) really means.<\/p>\n

    I believe this provides the missing first step in providing a foundation for someone to learn how to get through the LSM loop quicker. It begins to pave an easy path to think about what the most efficient, lean and minimum way to arrive at a measurable outcome might be.<\/p>\n

    Of course, you now have an easy way to measure if someone has truly understood the LSM or not as well. Just start with why.<\/p>\n

    Get more great information on building startups delivered to your inbox.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
    \n

    \n<\/p>\n
    <\/div>\n
    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Nowadays the Lean Startup Methodology is the most widely used practice for creating products. If you’re unfamiliar with LSM or need a refresher, read this.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[61,115],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLearn Before You Build: Lean Startup Cycle In Reverse<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nowadays the Lean Startup Methodology is the most widely used practice for creating products. 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