Author Melissa Perri uses the term “build trap” to describe the state in which companies maximize output – the number of features delivered per time – with many of these features offering no real benefit to customers instead of focusing on outcome, i.e., developing products that provide real added value for customers.
In “Escaping The Build Trap,” the author describes strategies that companies can use to avoid excessive feature development and instead develop a sustainable product strategy that focuses on satisfying customer needs, adapting to changing market conditions, and ensuring the company’s long-term competitiveness.
These strategies include experimenting with real users, observing customer behavior, interacting with customers, collecting and analyzing data on product usage, and continuously improving the product and the product development process through repetitive iterations. The author also introduces concepts such as lean product management, agile development, and user-centered design.
Responsibility for product development lies with Product Management. Accordingly, the author also presents strategies for building a product team and creating a product and communication culture within the organization.
The book is easy to read and contains numerous practical and inspiring case studies, valuable insights into the author’s work, and directly applicable tips for designing customer-oriented product development.
It’s a must-read for all product managers, executives, designers, and software developers committed to a customer-oriented approach.
🎧 Suitable as an audiobook? Yes.
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