Methodology
Establish Business Hypotheses
The first step in a new product build is to draw out and document the core business hypotheses for the product or service.
We work through 9 components to identify and draw out the assumptions and hypotheses that constitute the core vision for the product or service. By taking the time to detail these components at the outset we can help avoid unnecessary time spent later in the project (such as direct observation sessions, problem interviews, competitor analysis, and, ultimately, the design, development, and distribution of the product itself).
// Deliverable // Fully documented core set of assumptions, observations, analyses, and initial conclusions.
Problem Validation
Circumference employs an ongoing iterative process for problem validation - not a one time waterfall approach.
During the problem validation process we maintain a documented collection of observations, conclusions, and analyses pertaining to the product. We pause to review and refine the problem throughout the course of the product prototype build to ensure we capture as much depth as possible in our insights of the customer pain points.
// Deliverable // Up to date access to cumulative observations and analyses summarizing our cumulative understanding and confirmation of customer problem(s).
Solution Validation
As we move into designing and developing the product prototype we work to gather customer feedback early and often. This feedback often comes from subject matter experts and key stakeholders as well.
We then incorporate these datapoints back into ongoing design and development to help ensure that the prototype is as market ready as possible.
// Deliverable // Product roadmap and release reporting with final solution validation report following beta.
Systems of Work
1. Lean Development
If we don't need it, we don't build it. We leverage our familiarity with existing internal OS APIs, third party libraries, and external services to ensure that we don't spend time building something to solve a problem that someone else has already solved. We work to arrive at truly value adding work as quickly as possible.
Experience building Circumference products gives our team a substantial boost at the beginning of new projects. Using points of reference and frameworks from these products we can quickly move from the basics to more complex and nuanced features of the new product or service.
2. Systems of Work
We use our own proprietary hybrid agile-waterfall project management method to ensure that we maximize time spent creating value during our MVP product builds, not time spent in management or communications.
Employing systems (and workflow tools) that ensure all information is persistent, available, accessible, and contextual helps us stay on point while keeping you informed. We really don't like spending time trying to remember solutions to a problem we solved in last week's meeting...
3. Define, Design, Develop, Distribute
We use industry standard dev-ops procedures to ensure that we're doing the right work during each phase in a process.
Define - during this phase we work to identify and engage with key stakeholders and subject matter experts to clarify the constraints, objectives, and functionality that ought to be included in the product MVP. At the end of this phase we deliver a complete set of requirements for your custom build.
Design - during the Design phase we begin putting pixels, data models, and UX design to the requirements outlined during the Define phase. This includes not only graphical design by also technical design and software architecture. At the end of this phase all requirements produced during the Define phase are development ready.
Develop - in the Develop phase we bring the design and requirements to life. Since the Develop phase of a project is often the most expensive phase in which to make mistakes, we work hard to ensure that the product is maximally defined and designed before launching the Develop phase. Once development is started, our processes help minimize the need for changes (largely by having worked to pre-decide the most significant components of the build). This drastically reduces the risk of unanticipated costs surfacing during development.
Distribute - lastly, in the Distribute phase we help deploy your product to finalize solution validation. Then, if the business hypothesis is validated we prepare the product for broader launch and growth phases.