Minimum Viable Product (MVP): 3 Things to avoid

When embarking on the development of a minimum viable product (MVP), it is essential to make informed decisions about what features to include and, equally important, what to exclude. The success of an MVP lies in its ability to deliver a streamlined version of the product that captures the interest and feedback of early adopters. In this article, we explore three key elements that should be avoided when creating an MVP, ensuring its effectiveness in gathering insights and aligning with your overall product strategy.

1. Maybe Features

One of the primary challenges in developing an MVP is determining which features are truly essential. In the early stages, it is common for stakeholders to view all suggested features as "must-haves." To overcome this bias, it is crucial to engage in ruthless prioritization. Begin by crafting a one-line description of your product's core functionality and unique selling point. This description serves as a guiding principle to assess whether a feature directly aligns with the MVP's purpose. If a feature does not contribute directly to the core description, it is best to exclude it from the MVP. By focusing on the must-have features, you create a more refined and attractive MVP that resonates with early adopters.

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2. Untested Features

An MVP is an opportunity to validate your product's concept and value proposition. However, it is not the appropriate stage to test the fundamental viability of underlying technologies. Before releasing your MVP, it is vital to conduct thorough testing and ensure the reliability and functionality of the foundational technology. Neglecting this crucial step can result in a negative user experience and compromise the integrity of your MVP. By addressing any technical uncertainties prior to the MVP stage, you can confidently test the concept's market appeal and user acceptance.

3. Makeshift Features

Always remember that though an MVP is a stage in a process for you, it’s an end destination for early adopters who buy it. That means you shouldn’t include a feature that plugs a gap to make the MVP “ready” when you know you’ll remove or replace that feature in the final product.

A good way to think of this is a common analogy. If your final product is a car, an MVP of simply four wheels and a chassis is useless: It’s a logical developmental stage, but it’s not a functional product.

Some uses of this analogy suggest a bicycle would be a suitable MVP because it’s a more primitive form of transport. However, a bike not only misses fundamental features of a car (goes long distances without stopping; carries an entire family), but it has features that won’t be in the finished car (works without fuel; works on cycling paths.)

The software equivalent is straightforward: Don’t include anything in an MVP that fundamentally changes what your intended product is or what it does. Doing so completely undermines the benefits of getting feedback from early adopters.

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