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MVP Development Strategy
MVPs validate assumptions with minimal investment. Good MVP strategy tests the right hypothesis quickly. Bad MVP builds too much or too little. This guide covers effective MVP development.
MVP Principles
| Principle | Description |
|---|---|
| Minimum | Smallest possible |
| Viable | Actually works |
| Testable | Can validate hypothesis |
| Fast | Speed to learning |
Defining MVP
Scoping the Minimum
MVP SCOPING
═══════════
THE HYPOTHESIS:
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Start with:
├── Who is the user?
├── What problem do they have?
├── How do we solve it?
├── What would prove us right/wrong?
└── Clear hypothesis
MVP tests the hypothesis, nothing more.
MUST HAVE vs NICE TO HAVE:
─────────────────────────────────────
Must have:
├── Core value proposition
├── Usable experience
├── Way to measure success
├── Minimum viable
└── Essential only
Nice to have:
├── Edge cases
├── Secondary features
├── Polish beyond functional
├── Optimizations
├── CUT THESE
└── Later
SCOPE QUESTIONS:
─────────────────────────────────────
For each feature, ask:
├── Does this test our core hypothesis?
├── Would users understand value without it?
├── Is it essential for FIRST use?
├── Can we learn without it?
├── If any "no" → cut
└── Ruthless scoping
EXAMPLE:
─────────────────────────────────────
Hypothesis: "Teams need better task visibility"
MVP includes:
├── Create task
├── View task board
├── Basic status updates
├── One team, one project
└── Core value
MVP doesn't include:
├── Multiple projects
├── Permissions
├── Integrations
├── Mobile app
├── Reports
└── Later additions
Building MVP
Development Approach
MVP DEVELOPMENT
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TIME-BOX:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── 4-8 weeks typical
├── Fixed time, flexible scope
├── Cut scope to fit time
├── Ship on schedule
├── Learn quickly
└── Speed matters
ITERATION STRATEGY:
─────────────────────────────────────
Week 1-2:
├── Core functionality
├── Happy path only
├── No edge cases
└── Foundation
Week 3-4:
├── Basic polish
├── Critical fixes
├── Usable state
└── Viable
Week 5-6:
├── Feedback mechanism
├── Analytics
├── Soft launch prep
└── Measurable
SHORTCUTS (Okay for MVP):
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Manual processes behind scenes
├── Limited scale
├── Basic error handling
├── Minimal admin tools
├── Technical debt (documented)
├── Ship and learn
└── Acceptable compromises
NOT OKAY:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Broken core experience
├── Security holes
├── Data loss risk
├── Unusable interface
├── Minimum but not viable
└── Still needs to work
Validation
Learning from MVP
MVP VALIDATION
══════════════
SUCCESS METRICS:
─────────────────────────────────────
Define upfront:
├── What proves hypothesis?
├── What disproves it?
├── Quantitative metrics
├── Qualitative feedback
├── Clear criteria
└── Know what you're measuring
METRICS EXAMPLES:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Sign-up rate
├── Activation rate (completed action)
├── Retention (came back)
├── Engagement (usage depth)
├── NPS or satisfaction
├── Willingness to pay
└── Meaningful measures
FEEDBACK COLLECTION:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Analytics (behavior)
├── Surveys (opinions)
├── Interviews (depth)
├── Support tickets (problems)
├── Multiple sources
└── Triangulate
DECISION CRITERIA:
─────────────────────────────────────
If validation shows:
├── Strong signal → Build more
├── Weak signal → Pivot or iterate
├── No signal → Rethink fundamentally
├── Data-driven decisions
├── Not wishful thinking
└── Honest assessment
Post-MVP
After Validation
POST-MVP
════════
VALIDATED:
─────────────────────────────────────
If MVP validates hypothesis:
├── Plan next iteration
├── Address technical debt
├── Add cut features
├── Scale up
├── Build on foundation
└── Grow from success
NOT VALIDATED:
─────────────────────────────────────
If MVP doesn't validate:
├── Analyze why
├── Pivot hypothesis
├── Try different approach
├── Or: kill the idea
├── Learning is success
└── Fail fast, learn fast
TECHNICAL DEBT:
─────────────────────────────────────
After validation:
├── Address known shortcuts
├── Before scaling
├── Pay down debt
├── Sustainable foundation
└── Clean up
DON'T:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Ship MVP then forget it
├── Keep MVP forever
├── Scale without fixing
├── Ignore what you learned
├── MVP is starting point
└── Continue or stop
GitScrum for MVP
Tracking MVP Development
GITSCRUM FOR MVP
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DEDICATED PROJECT:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── MVP as separate project
├── Clear scope visible
├── Focused board
├── Timeline clear
└── Contained
LABELS:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── mvp-essential
├── mvp-cut
├── post-mvp
├── Clear what's in/out
└── Scope management
MILESTONES:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── MVP Alpha
├── MVP Beta
├── MVP Launch
├── Phased delivery
└── Progress visible
RETROSPECTIVE:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── What did we learn?
├── Was scope right?
├── What to do next?
├── Capture learnings
└── Inform next phase
Best Practices
For MVP Development
- Hypothesis first — Know what you're testing
- Ruthless scope — Cut aggressively
- Time-box — Ship on schedule
- Viable, not broken — Still works
- Measure and learn — Data-driven next steps
Anti-Patterns
MVP MISTAKES:
✗ Building too much
✗ No clear hypothesis
✗ MVP takes 6 months
✗ Shipping broken
✗ No metrics defined
✗ Ignoring data
✗ Never iterating post-MVP
✗ "MVP" that's full product