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For this reason we built the Tabbed Inbox through a series of build-measure-learn loops, which are called Steps in GIST. There were usability tests, longitudinal studies, fishfood and dogfood, labs, and partial launches. Each step generated a more complete version of the product, but also gave us new evidence, which helped build our confidence in the idea and get more funding. We used what we learned in each step to course-correct and improve the idea. The feature we eventually launched was profoundly better than the one we started with.
Evidence-Guided
Itamar Gilad
Here’s what you need to look for in a North Star Metric: As close as possible to the core value experience ... Aggregate number, not a rate or ratio—We’re looking for a number that will sum up the value across the entire market and potentially grow up-and-to-right over time... Simple and memorable—No North Star Metric is perfect. Some messages sent via WhatsApp may be spam, some items purchased on eBay may not be fully satisfactory to the buyer. That’s fine as long as the number is still generally indicative of total value.
Evidence-Guided
Itamar Gilad
*Staff Engineer* introduces an approach I call [Take five, then synthesize](https://lethain.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f7003ed301623a88fab7cf783&id=1e5e9d0544&e=a102c6f471), which does strategy by:
1. Documenting how five current and historical related decisions have been made in your organization. This is an extended exploration phase
2. Synthesizing those five documents into a diagnosis and policy. You are naming the implicit strategy, so it’s impossible for someone to reasonably argue you’re not empowered to do strategy: you’re just describing what’s already happening
Who Gets to Do Strategy? @ Irrational Exuberance
Will Larson
...catch up on these, and many more highlights
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