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A project begins with a vision that is, at best, a vague image of the glorious thing the project will become. Planning is pushing the vision to the point where it is sufficiently researched, analyzed, tested, and detailed that we can be confident we have a reliable road map of the way forward. Most planning is done with computers, paper, and physical models, meaning that planning is relatively cheap and safe. Barring other time pressures, it’s fine for planning to be slow. Delivery is another matter. Delivery is when serious money is spent and the project becomes vulnerable as a consequence.
How Big Things Get Done
Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner
I emphasize to product people all the time that there is no single product discovery process just as there is no single product development/delivery process. There are many different discovery processes, all for different situations. For example, a [discovery sprint](https://svpg.com/discovery-sprints/) looks very different from customer discovery, but you should be skilled at both.
Moreover, it’s important to realize that it’s not about process. It’s much more about putting in place the necessary culture, and training your team on the critical techniques.
Process vs. Model
Marty Cagan
If you’re working on a strategy for a whole product, then the superpowers that you might have can be split into 7 categories:
• **Network effects** – Each user enjoys more value as new users join the network
• **Scale economies** – Unit costs decline as volume increases
• **Switching costs** – Switching to an alternate product would be costly or painful for users
• **Counter positioning** – Where a new product’s business model or value proposition cannot easily be copied by incumbents as it would damage their existing business
• **Cornered resource** – Unique access to a valuable asset
• **Branding** – An objectively identical offering has higher perceived value
• **Process Power** – Embedded company culture and process which enable lower costs and/or superior quality
How to Write a Product Strategy in 1 Day / 1 Week / 1 Month
Aakash Gupta
...catch up on these, and many more highlights
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