Agile Secret Sauce
Apr 26, 2006We recently watched a presentation by Adam Bosworth (VP, Engineering, Google) from last year's Dreamforce Conference titled "Intelligent Reaction." In his presentation, Adam describes an operational model for more effective software development based on listening to the market and intelligently reacting to customer suggestions.
Kieden follows such a methodology that is the norm for businesses of all sizes on the consumer web. It is certainly the norm for the new breed of Web2.0 companies that have triggered the second wave of the net boom. We refer to it as Agile Development, but there are many terms folks use to describe similar principles. Here are two core components of Kieden's belief system:
(1) Reduce time to feedback
Very simply, we belive in getting the product, feature, prototype, screenshot, napkin drawing, or anything that describes what we are creating into the hands of customers and potential customers as fast as possible. We want them to comment and give feedback, telling us where we are on track, and where we need more work. We listen to them, and prioritize their suggestions. We believe that our community of customers and prospects can help us more intelligenty design a system than we can alone sitting in the ivory tower.
[External resources exploring similar principles: The wisdom of crowds, The architecture of participation, Intelligent reaction.]
(2) Increase the number of iterations
We believe in taking this feedback and revising our product, feature, prototype, screenshot, napkin drawing, etc as fast as humanly possible. The goal being to get it back in front of our audience for the next round of comments.
The Results:
The new generation of web applications are in constant deployment, always releasing new components and new features. Kieden is currently releasing a product to production twice a week. Other companies such as flickr, and 37 Signals deliver product releases once a day, sometimes faster. Its officially the "end of the release cycle," and the beginning of flickr-like development for the business web. Ultimately, more agile companies can move, react, and adapt at speeds far greater than their competition. Salesforce.com was a pioneer of this mentality on the business web, outpacing Siebel with ease.
Kieden follows such a methodology that is the norm for businesses of all sizes on the consumer web. It is certainly the norm for the new breed of Web2.0 companies that have triggered the second wave of the net boom. We refer to it as Agile Development, but there are many terms folks use to describe similar principles. Here are two core components of Kieden's belief system:
(1) Reduce time to feedback
Very simply, we belive in getting the product, feature, prototype, screenshot, napkin drawing, or anything that describes what we are creating into the hands of customers and potential customers as fast as possible. We want them to comment and give feedback, telling us where we are on track, and where we need more work. We listen to them, and prioritize their suggestions. We believe that our community of customers and prospects can help us more intelligenty design a system than we can alone sitting in the ivory tower.
[External resources exploring similar principles: The wisdom of crowds, The architecture of participation, Intelligent reaction.]
(2) Increase the number of iterations
We believe in taking this feedback and revising our product, feature, prototype, screenshot, napkin drawing, etc as fast as humanly possible. The goal being to get it back in front of our audience for the next round of comments.
The Results:
The new generation of web applications are in constant deployment, always releasing new components and new features. Kieden is currently releasing a product to production twice a week. Other companies such as flickr, and 37 Signals deliver product releases once a day, sometimes faster. Its officially the "end of the release cycle," and the beginning of flickr-like development for the business web. Ultimately, more agile companies can move, react, and adapt at speeds far greater than their competition. Salesforce.com was a pioneer of this mentality on the business web, outpacing Siebel with ease.
Bookmark
0 Comments