I did a video about Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and was then asked how it differs from a prototype. Plus, there is MRF, MMF, MBI, MMP, MMR, and MLP. What’s the difference?
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What’s the Difference?
Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
A minimum viable product (MVP) is a first version of a product that has just enough features to satisfy early customers, validate the concept, and provide feedback for future product development.
I have a full video that looks at what an MVP is, in detail.
Getting something done and out there so people can use it should be what project professionals are about. So the concept of Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is excellent. Basically, it is a prototype that works. So, you can show it to the customer and use it to help drive a decision or inform the next steps.
Prototypes
The difference is that you can sell a minimum viable product because it’s complete and tested. A prototype is a learning tool and may not work. It is a demonstration product that you can show and test, to validate things like functionality, quality, user experience, or development process.
However, an MVP has limited functionality – the minimum that is viable. A prototype could represent anything from a subset of useful functionality all the way to a highly functional version way beyond the minimum.
Both prototypes and MVPs are used to learn and to reduce risk.
MVP’s Family of Relations
However, Minimum Viable Product is just one of a family of related ideas:
Minimum Releasable Feature (MRF)
The single, smallest feature that can work as part of your MVP. It creates real value and so is sometimes called a Minimum Marketable Feature (MMF)
Minimum Business Increment (MBI)
The smallest chunk of value that you can justify waiting for. Without it, the release makes no sense. In an agile development, each increment or sprint needs to create at least a Minimum Business Increment
Minimum Marketable Product (MMP)
– also called a Minimum Marketable Release (MMR)
The smallest group of business increments that you believe the end customers would be prepared to pay for. Contains one or more MBIs. It is fully working and therefore you can feel confident that customers will feel they get value for the money they spend.
Minimum Lovable Product (MLP)
A product with the minimum functionality needed to deliver substantial value and be loved by users or customers. MLPs go beyond viability to create an emotional connection with users.
Recommended Videos to Help with Agile Design and Testing
Carefully curated video recommendations for you that answer the question, what is…
- Minimum Viable Product – MVP?
- Design Thinking? Human-centered Problem-solving
- User Acceptance Testing – UAT? and the Software Testing Process
What Kit Does a Project Manager Need?
I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list. I added my own.
Check out the Kit a Project Manager needs
Note that the links are affiliated.
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