Leaning into Lean Experiments

We often find ourselves faced with small and large decisions around some pain in our personal lives or business. A total solution is presented through good marketing and persuasive delivery as a panacea leaving us faced with a choice to move forward or stay in place.

Can we really achieve those outcomes with this investment? Is this the answer I’ve been looking for? 

Instinctively, we believe the whole solution must be implemented before we can achieve results or know the investment of time and money was “worth it”.  Fortunately, the last decade has codified a way of reducing waste in decision making and development of just about anything. 

Behold: Lean Experimentation

Rooted in lean manufacturing, lean experiments reframe the questions to be answered when building (or implementing) something new. 

Described by Eric Reis in The Lean Start-Up, lean experimentation helps define what to build and supports a reduction of waste in building the wrong thing. Prior to major investment in a solution perceived as being complete, we can now define the requirements for that solution faster, cheaper and learn more deeply about what is truly needed, accelerating the time to value [read: revenue]. When this process is demonstrated at its finest, solutions are usually simple, elegant and even joyful. 

Through well designed experimentation, learning occurs at a rapid and effective pace. Using the scientific method, a hypothesis is first defined. Then, a low-cost, low-drag plan emerges to prove or disprove the hypothesis. As such, we learn about ourselves, customers or users. Often, the evidence of these experiments doesn’t lead to a defined path or answer and can feel “all over the map”. To derive useful insights, we must synthesize the findings and confirm we’ve asked the right questions. Building or defining a thing for everyone is a thing for no-one.

For example, in our personal lives, seeking out others who may have done or implemented something similar could be framed as a lean experiment. In our professional or entrepreneurial lives, starting small with paper or 3-D printed prototypes or taking new customers through an “A” or “B” service approach could be useful experiment. The goal is to learn quickly and with evidence. 

Designing and conducting lean experiments takes practice. BHC can help. Contact us today to learn more.