Building Fast Without Compromising Quality: Lessons Learned
We've all heard the mantra: “We need to build and ship fast!” It’s a tempting call to action, but too often it results in rushed shortcuts and quick fixes. Fast-forward a few months, and you’re stuck patching up a mess—a band-aid on a bullet wound.
Over time, I’ve come to realize that shipping "fast" can mean two very different things. The first is the common misstep: prioritizing speed over everything else, leaving quality in the dust. The second, more effective approach, is building for the perception of speed. It’s about delivering value swiftly and sustainably while staying true to the product vision.
Here’s how I approach shipping fast without sacrificing quality:
1. Keep Product and Business Objectives Front and Center
Start with clarity. Always ask yourself: What are we trying to achieve?
Every decision should tie back to the defined success metrics and the main objectives. This alignment ensures that the work you're doing contributes to both customer satisfaction and business sustainability. Without this focus, it’s easy to waste time on features or fixes that don’t move the needle.
2. Understand Dependencies Before You Start
A solid technical foundation is key. Take the time to understand how things are built—front-end components, back-end structures, and data flows.
When you have this understanding, it’s easier to identify dependencies when designing features. This also helps in prioritizing deliverables based on what can be done first and what requires other tasks to be completed.
3. Deliver the Perception of Speed
Here’s the key question: How can I deliver immediate value with minimal effort?
Small, regular updates give customers the impression that constant value is being delivered. Customers who see regular improvements are more likely to stay engaged with your product, knowing updates arrive every couple of weeks.
This approach is far better than months of silence, followed by a massive release where you cross your fingers and hope everything works. Prioritize consistent, gradual progress over the "Big Bang" approach.
4. Tie Customer Value to Business Impact
At the end of the day, you could design the best product to meet your customers' needs, but if it doesn’t contribute to the business, it’s not sustainable.
When prioritizing key deliverables for a sprint, I always ensure that the value we add for customers also creates a positive impact for the business. Simply put, happy customers should translate into a healthier business.
5. Plan Well and Communicate Often
Good planning and communication are the backbone of fast, high-quality delivery. Work closely with your team and keep everyone aligned.
- Break the initial MVP into mini pre-MVPs. Scope these out carefully and realistically for each sprint.
- Consider all three tracks—back end, front end, and product. At the start of every sprint, define exact deliverables for the next two weeks and outline the potential scope for the upcoming sprint.
- Use mini-releases at the end of each sprint to incrementally build toward the final MVP release over, say, 8 weeks.
Conclusion
Shipping fast while maintaining quality takes time, practice, and teamwork. There will be bumps along the way, but with a focus on gradual progress and strong planning, your team can eventually run like a well-oiled machine.