Creating a product is similar to preparing a meal. You begin with several ingredients, combine them, and observe what results. When in a hurry, however, you may be tempted to bypass procedures—such as chopping vegetables well or allowing dough to rest. In cooking, they are referred to as “cutting corners.” As much as it looks like a time-saver, omitting crucial steps may result in a dish that is not cooked thoroughly or is unpalatable. It’s the same with product development; cutting corners can provide a product that doesn’t satisfy user needs or expectations.
Why MVPs Cut Corners
When you’re creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), you want to validate your product idea with as little effort and resources as possible. It’s a matter of getting something in users’ hands fast to see what they think and validate assumptions. To do that, teams will typically make intentional trade-offs:
Speed Over Perfection: Instead of aiming for a polished product, the focus is on speed. This means releasing a product with just enough features to test the core idea.
Limited Features: Only the essential features that solve the primary problem are included. Extra features are deferred for future iterations.
Simplified Design: The interface can be plain, and the user experience will not be smooth. Functionality is prioritized over beauty.
Less Testing: Due to constraints in time and resources, in-depth testing may be omitted. It is hoped that genuine user feedback will pick up on problems.
These shortcuts are deliberate and tactical. They enable teams to ship quickly, learn from users, and iterate without spending too much at the beginning.
What Corners Shouldn’t Be Cut
While it’s okay for some shortcuts, others compromise the success of the product. The following are where shortcuts can go wrong:
1. User Feedback
A main reason for an MVP is to learn from users. Without collecting and analyzing user feedback, you’re operating blind. Skipping this process can result in creating a product that nobody wants or needs.
2. Core Functionality
The MVP should deliver the core value proposition. If the essential features are missing or don’t work as expected, users will abandon the product quickly.
3. Security
Even if the product is in its infancy, security can’t be overlooked. A data breach or security flaw can damage trust and derail the project.
4. Legal Compliance
Make sure that the product is in compliance with applicable law and regulation. Failure to comply can result in legal trouble and penalties in the future.
5. Quality Assurance
Though extensive testing may be cut back, some quality assurance must be included. Crashes and bugs will annoy users and discourage feedback.
6. Clear Communication
From marketing materials to user onboarding, communication must be clear. Misleading or confusing communication can create incorrect expectations and damage the brand.
The Price of Cutting the Wrong Corners
Cutting corners in the wrong places can cause major issues:
User Attrition: When users find flaws or don’t get value, they’ll depart, and they may never come back.
Damage to Reputation: Negative word-of-mouth and reviews can damage the brand’s reputation.
Higher Costs: It’s more costly to fix underlying issues later than it is to fix them initially.
Missed Opportunities: Without feedback, the product could be off-target, and valuable information could be wasted.
Balancing Speed and Quality
The trick is achieving a balance between speed and quality. It is a matter of making deliberate decisions about where to cut corners and where to put effort. For example, you could launch a product with a minimal interface but have the core functionality working perfectly. Likewise, you could forego high-end features but have the product meet legal standards.
Final Thoughts Creating an MVP is a balance act. It’s about making high-level decisions on what assumptions to test fast without compromising on the value that the product has to offer and the minimum standards that the product must achieve. By knowing where to take shortcuts and where to not,
teams can create products that are effective and efficient. Just remember, the mission is not to create a perfect product right away but to learn and iterate.
