Over the last two weeks we set scene for developing a minimum viable product and then we looked

that basic groundwork that needs doing before embarking on this journey. Today we dispel a few
common myths about the MVP.

Myth 1: Start with a scooter, end with a car

You’re all familiar with the image where you from skateboard to car. This image has been the typical
example of a minimum viable product. The basic problem with that image is that, each component
on that chain is an entirely different product. A skateboard is different from a scooter, which is
different from a bicycle, which is different from a motorcycle, which is different from a car. This is
not how you develop a minimum viable product. In my last article, I mentioned that every iteration
of your product from iteration one, must comply with all functional, legal and regulatory
requirements applicable. The requirements for a car are different from the requirements for a
skateboard.

Myth 2: We only need to meet a portion of overall functional requirements

The key word to remember is ‘viable’. Your product must fulfil all its basic functional requirements.
Keeping this in mind, let’s look at how a minimum viable product must look like, with an all too
familiar example; the airline seat.

Most airlines usually have seats in Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First. Some airlines
even have a Residence! If we take a standard economy class seat of any airline, it fulfils all the
mandatory regulatory and legal requirements of what an airline seat must do. It also fulfils the
requirements (albeit very basic) of seating a passenger for the duration of the flight, in a safe
manner. Building on this minimum viable product are the other seat variants, such as Premium
Economy, Business, First and Residence.

Myth 3: Once we deliver the MVP we have arrived

You certainly have arrived, but not at your destination. You’ve arrived at the starting line. It’s not a
drag race, where all you need is to prove yourself over a quarter mile sprint. Neither is it a 50-75 lap
Formula One race. It’s more of an endurance race, like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 24 Hours of Le
Mans is by far the toughest of the endurance races in modern day racing. Firstly, it happens over 24
hours, this means you race at different times of the day. It happens in the summer, this means you
can have unpredictable weather. The race itself sees cars covering a distance of around 5,000
kilometres. In order to truly arrive, your product needs to be effective, consistent, efficient, and you
need to have a good team of people around your product. Winning once isn’t enough, you need to
be able to win consistently and stay at the top. Just like the 24 Hours of Le Man, you win this year’s
race, but the next year’s race is a different challenge. So, back to the drawing board.

I hope I’ve helped dispel some common myths around the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). As
always let me summarise this with three points:

1. Starting with a skateboard and building a car is a bad example of a minimum viable product
2. An appropriate example of a minimum viable product is the airline economy seat
3. Building a product and an enterprise is an endurance race, like the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Happy reading!