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Whether you’re a product manager at a startup, or an entrepreneur looking to bring a new product to market, getting product development right can be the difference between success and failure.
It’s all well and good having an idea for a new product, but if the vision doesn’t come to light, it won’t work.
What Does Product Development Entail?
Product development is all about bringing a new product to market. This can either be through designing something new, or improving something that already exists.
When it comes to the creation of a new product, the process includes:
1. Ideation: First thing’s first – deciding what product is going to be made. This can start with a brainstorm, looking at what problem the product is going to solve, and starting to get an idea of design.
2. Market research: Before diving into creating a new product, it’s important to understand the audience that will be using it. Market research can help to understand any pain points with similar products, or the type of problems the product is setting out to solve.
3. Design and prototypes: Next comes the design stage, where versions of the product will be created and analysed. This will include the aesthetic and any software being used.
4. Testing and improving: Once the initial prototype is created, it will go through testing and improvements to make sure it is working as it should.
5. Launch planning: Once created, product development managers will work with the marketing and sales teams to make sure key messages are communicated.
Whilst the process might sound complicated, luckily, some of the best product managers in the business have put pen to paper to help make it easier to master.
Some of our favourites include:
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The Lean Product Playbook
Want to build products that customers love? Then this book is for you. The Lean Product Playbook is all about how to build great products through strategy.
With a step by step guide of all considerations, it’s a great playbook for any product developer or designer looking to plan a successful launch to market.
Buy the book here
Inspired: How To Create Products Customers Love
If you’re looking to understand what makes a product genuinely great, then this book is for you.
In this book, Marty Cagan talks about how to master product organisation and create tech products that consumers will love.
Buy the book here
Product Leadership: How Top Product Managers Launch Awesome Products and Build Successful Teams
Tech changes fast, so good product management can be the difference between a growing product and one that gets lost in the crowd.
In this book, over 100 product managers are interviewed and analysed, allowing aspiring managers to understand how to lead their teams to achieve success.
Buy the book here
Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
In this book, Nir Eyal looks at the psychology behind products that keep users coming back.
Eyal introduces the “Hook Model,” a four-step model that explains how successful products are those that create new habits. If you’re looking to build industry defining products, then this book is for you.
Buy the book here
Radical Product Thinking: The New Mindset For Innovating Smarter
Product managers can build endless devices, but without purpose behind them, they will never catch on.
For those who want to approach product development in a strategic way, this book explains how to create products that are set up for success from the word go.
Buy the book here