What are the questions we should be addressing
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Avron Olshewsky
May 4, 2012, 10:21:16 AM5/4/12
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As has been pointed out to me, it is important to understand the questions we are trying to solve:
Here is a first shot ....
Here is a first shot ....
- Would a simple methodology accompanied by best-practises and guidelines make the entrepreneurial process slightly more productive and reduce the risk of bad advice ?
- What client devices should we develop for (at first) ?
- How do we specify our requirements when we are not technical ourselves ?
- How do we know which technologies or combinations of technologies are fit for purpose ?
- What is the process to get a user-interface designed ?
- Should we develop a bespoke system or use existing open source software ?
- Should we find someone locally or outsource to a developing country ?
- Why are there so many variations in quotes for software development of the same system ?
- Do we need a social media, marketing and analytics strategy ?
- How much does acquiring traffic cost and how do we do it ?
- What should we look out for in the design phase, do we need to worry about design for MVP. ?
- Do we need a technical co-founder or CTO ?
Adrian Howard
May 4, 2012, 4:02:44 PM5/4/12
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On 4 May 2012, at 15:21, Avron Olshewsky wrote:
> As has been pointed out to me, it is important to understand the questions
> we are trying to solve:
>
> Here is a first shot ....
I would add "What market are we addressing?" and "What problem are we addressing?" to the top of the list.
Adrian
--
http://quietstars.com adr...@quietstars.com twitter.com/adrianh
t. +44 (0)7752 419080 skype adrianjohnhoward del.icio.us/adrianh
Avron Olshewsky
May 5, 2012, 1:17:08 PM5/5/12
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I agree, "especially what is the problem" ?
Ralph (CTO Dreamstake)
May 7, 2012, 6:36:22 PM5/7/12
to OpenCTO
This somehow is a mix of questions for potential customers as well as
something to help defining OpenCTO I guess... ?!?
Another question: "Is there a budget ?"
And another one: "Is there already a team ? What are their skills /
experience ?"
Some thoughts from me:
- Would a simple methodology accompanied by best-practises and
audience (is it a first time non-technical founder, a team of
developers without leader, an experienced mixed discipline team
etc...)
- What client devices should we develop for (at first) ?
--> Not sure if we need a restriction, are we talking standard web
browser, iOS, Android, other mobile etc ?!?
- How do we specify our requirements when we are not technical
ourselves
?
--> That's going back to first point; an example and template would be
nice; with the understanding that someone experienced will need to
validate and map to a technical specification at some point...
- How do we know which technologies or combinations of technologies
- What is the process to get a user-interface designed ?
--> Understand and document customer requirements first, then start
with some simple mockups. If there is a budget, get a UI/UX expert to
help
- Should we develop a bespoke system or use existing open source
software ?
--> Down to scenario and CTO advice, look for overlap of requirements
and what can be covered by existing solution, then decide between
existing solution versus new development; also look at skills if there
is already a team
- Should we find someone locally or outsource to a developing
country ?
--> Preference is locally but depends on budget; mix can be useful as
well, especially if there is already some technical team resource
- Why are there so many variations in quotes for software
outsourcing with different costs based on country and quality as well
as misunderstood requirements as well as intentional mis-quoting to
undercut quotes
- Do we need a social media, marketing and analytics strategy ?
--> Often required by client, good to have as optional package, good
to have expert for that
- How much does acquiring traffic cost and how do we do it ?
--> Worth to have expert for that
- What should we look out for in the design phase, do we need to
something that looks horrible ? I would prefer something with reduced
features that looks professional, versus something that has more
features and looks bad
- Do we need a technical co-founder or CTO ?
--> If that's a question for a client, and OpenCTO is supposed to be
the solution, then I guess the answer is "You need a CTO, you need
OpenCTO" ?!? :)
something to help defining OpenCTO I guess... ?!?
Another question: "Is there a budget ?"
And another one: "Is there already a team ? What are their skills /
experience ?"
Some thoughts from me:
- Would a simple methodology accompanied by best-practises and
guidelines make the entrepreneurial process slightly more
productive and
reduce the risk of bad advice ?
--> Yes, definitely, but you need to adjust this depending on the
productive and
reduce the risk of bad advice ?
audience (is it a first time non-technical founder, a team of
developers without leader, an experienced mixed discipline team
etc...)
- What client devices should we develop for (at first) ?
--> Not sure if we need a restriction, are we talking standard web
browser, iOS, Android, other mobile etc ?!?
- How do we specify our requirements when we are not technical
ourselves
?
--> That's going back to first point; an example and template would be
nice; with the understanding that someone experienced will need to
validate and map to a technical specification at some point...
- How do we know which technologies or combinations of technologies
are
fit for purpose ?
--> That's a CTO or consulting specialist decision, no easy answer
fit for purpose ?
- What is the process to get a user-interface designed ?
--> Understand and document customer requirements first, then start
with some simple mockups. If there is a budget, get a UI/UX expert to
help
- Should we develop a bespoke system or use existing open source
software ?
--> Down to scenario and CTO advice, look for overlap of requirements
and what can be covered by existing solution, then decide between
existing solution versus new development; also look at skills if there
is already a team
- Should we find someone locally or outsource to a developing
country ?
--> Preference is locally but depends on budget; mix can be useful as
well, especially if there is already some technical team resource
- Why are there so many variations in quotes for software
development of
the same system ?
--> Market rates for freelancer versus software houses versus
the same system ?
outsourcing with different costs based on country and quality as well
as misunderstood requirements as well as intentional mis-quoting to
undercut quotes
- Do we need a social media, marketing and analytics strategy ?
--> Often required by client, good to have as optional package, good
to have expert for that
- How much does acquiring traffic cost and how do we do it ?
--> Worth to have expert for that
- What should we look out for in the design phase, do we need to
worry
about design for MVP. ?
--> Will investors / partners / sponsors come on board if they see
about design for MVP. ?
something that looks horrible ? I would prefer something with reduced
features that looks professional, versus something that has more
features and looks bad
- Do we need a technical co-founder or CTO ?
--> If that's a question for a client, and OpenCTO is supposed to be
the solution, then I guess the answer is "You need a CTO, you need
OpenCTO" ?!? :)
Avron Olshewsky
May 8, 2012, 7:01:27 AM5/8/12
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Hi Ralph,
Thanks for your input. I think we have to have some tailored method/advice depending on the start-up stage. I will see if I can start capturing comments somewhere with the aim of creating the associated artifacts.
Kind regards
Avron--
http://opencto.com
Avron Olshewsky +44 7508407 065
Thanks for your input. I think we have to have some tailored method/advice depending on the start-up stage. I will see if I can start capturing comments somewhere with the aim of creating the associated artifacts.
Kind regards
Avron
http://opencto.com
Avron Olshewsky +44 7508407 065
Yoav Aviram
May 15, 2012, 6:30:45 AM5/15/12
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Hi All,
I started a Google Document that captures all the questions tossed around so far.
It is now open for public comments so please express your thoughts about the questions on the list and suggest new ones.
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