Information Technology and Product Development: A Tale of Two Departments
Information Technology (IT) and Product Development have a long-standing relationship. Information Technology is an integral part of the product lifecycle, from conception to eventual decline. IT's role as a supporting function has been well documented by practitioners and academics alike, but what differentiates IT from Product Development? And more importantly how can IT and Product Development teams intersect to build the next great "thing?"
Ways that IT and Product Development Connect
The short answer is "iteration." Information technology gives Product Development professionals the ability to iterate on their product. Information technology also allows for more rapid iteration of functionality within each release cycle. This methodology can be traced back to Antonin Raymond in 1939, but it is most famously known in the new millennium through the work of Steve Jobs and Apple. The waterfall methodologies that governed IT are being slowly phased out in favor of agile techniques that allow for product development to move along at a faster pace with shorter iterations per cycle. Agile information technologies support this mission by allowing software engineers to deliver working code faster which Product Development then takes and places into an iterative development cycle.
These agile developers are breaking away from traditional IT behaviors with one major exception: testing. Information Technologists still need to take their "working" code and run it through the ringer by placing its features in front of actual customers, or Product Managers. For this reason, IT professionals should move their familiar product management mindset into the Product Development realm.
Collaboration is Key!
The role of information technology is shifting from one that provides tools for Product Development teams to one that focuses on building a great product. Technologists need to make sure they are working hand in hand with Product Development team members, not independently from them. Working together with Product Development will allow IT to best contribute to the success of the next great "thing."
This method of collaboration has been widely championed by Information Technology practitioners working in the Lean Startup methodology. Information technology is integral to agile development, which allows for shorter development cycles, leading to more iterations per cycle, and ultimately allowing for leaner startups. Information technology provides the ability to quickly adapt code based on customer feedback. These are all key components of Lean Startup methodology that can be used by any business looking to create a product.
Information Technology has evolved from being just a supporting function of Product Development into becoming an equal facilitator of its success. Today's IT teams need to engage as key contributors to Product Development, not just an extension of it. The key to achieving success lies with making Information Technology an integral part of Product Development through the use of Lean Startup methodologies like iterations and customer feedback loops to accelerate the building of great products. Information technologists need to become experts at their craft, provide support across the entire lifecycle, and help Product Development teams iterate towards building the next great "thing" with speed and agility.
Do your pressing IT and product development challenges need our team's experience? If you’re interested in finding out more about Visual Connections’ services that can help your company create the next great “thing,” contact us today!