In Running Lean, Ash Maurya introduces a new approach for bringing a product to market. This is not one of those theoretical books, this book gives you a clear action plan to follow step-by-step. The best news for business owners is, Maurya tells us to throw out the standard business plan and embrace the Lean Canvas. This is a one page plan that is fast to create and gives you a basis for this new approach.
After you have documented your plan using the Lean Canvas, you move toward identifying the riskiest part of the plan which helps you identify what to focus on first. From there Maurya gives you a detailed approach of how to systematically test your plan through customer customer interviews and tweaking your product.
One of the most fascinating parts of the book is where Maurya discusses how he used this approach to write his book. It is a great illustration of how this approach is not just for technology companies. Any business can use this approach to bring a project or product to market. While this book is for many types of businesses, I will say that the language of the book does reflect Maurya’s technology background. A small business owner can definitely make the system work for their needs.
While I have heard of this approach in software development, I was not familiar with it for overall product development. It saves time and resources because you are getting feedback as you develop the product not once it is done and too late to change. I will definitely be using it with a new product line we are working on with my daughter’s company, SoapPrizes. If you are looking for a new way to launch a product or project, give this book a look.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for agreeing to review the book, but with no restrictions on what I say.