Learning Loop – Build-Learn-Measure
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 10:44 am
One of the most important steps of the Lean Startup methodology is the definition of a minimum viable product (MVP), which is necessary to start the learning process by integrating feedback from the first users. (Lenarduzzi & Taibi, 2016)
A minimum viable product (MVP) is a variant of a new product that allows a startup to collect the maximum amount of verified customer information with the least effort. The goal of an MVP is to test basic business hypotheses and help entrepreneurs begin the learning process as quickly as possible by introducing this MVP to users for testing. (Ries, 2011)
Key elements of MVP according to the Pixelfield agency ( "MVP - What Is It and Why Is It Crucial for Your Business?" ):
Functionality – a set of features that create clear value for the user
Design – design must be to the highest standards
Reliability – the highest reliability must be achieved through testing Usability – the MVP skype database must be easy to use and intuitive
The Build – Measure – Learn learning loop emphasizes speed as a key element of product development. The effectiveness of a team or company is determined by the ability to generate ideas, followed by the speed of creating a minimum viable product, i.e., by embodying that idea and then measuring its performance in the market and learning from that test. It is a learning cycle of turning ideas into products, measuring customer reactions and behavior towards the built products, and then deciding whether to persist with the idea or pivot; this process is repeated as many times as necessary. (Maurya, 2012)
Customer development
Customer development is a term defined by Steve Blank. Customer development is one of the three parts that make up a lean startup (Business Model Design, Customer Development, Agile Engineering). Blank first defined customer development in his book “The Four Steps to the Epiphany” and subsequently refined his ideas in the book “The Startup Owner's Manual”. (Blank & Dorf, 2012)
The idea behind this method is that in addition to the product development process, a startup also needs a customer development process to find and understand its customers. This method leads to the development of solutions that are based on an approach that focuses primarily on the user and their needs. This process assumes that startups have untested hypotheses about their business model. They do not know exactly who the customers are, what functionality they want, what communication channel to use, and many other areas that they do not know. The key approach is to “go among the people as early as possible” and get their direct feedback. (Maurya, 2012).
A minimum viable product (MVP) is a variant of a new product that allows a startup to collect the maximum amount of verified customer information with the least effort. The goal of an MVP is to test basic business hypotheses and help entrepreneurs begin the learning process as quickly as possible by introducing this MVP to users for testing. (Ries, 2011)
Key elements of MVP according to the Pixelfield agency ( "MVP - What Is It and Why Is It Crucial for Your Business?" ):
Functionality – a set of features that create clear value for the user
Design – design must be to the highest standards
Reliability – the highest reliability must be achieved through testing Usability – the MVP skype database must be easy to use and intuitive
The Build – Measure – Learn learning loop emphasizes speed as a key element of product development. The effectiveness of a team or company is determined by the ability to generate ideas, followed by the speed of creating a minimum viable product, i.e., by embodying that idea and then measuring its performance in the market and learning from that test. It is a learning cycle of turning ideas into products, measuring customer reactions and behavior towards the built products, and then deciding whether to persist with the idea or pivot; this process is repeated as many times as necessary. (Maurya, 2012)
Customer development
Customer development is a term defined by Steve Blank. Customer development is one of the three parts that make up a lean startup (Business Model Design, Customer Development, Agile Engineering). Blank first defined customer development in his book “The Four Steps to the Epiphany” and subsequently refined his ideas in the book “The Startup Owner's Manual”. (Blank & Dorf, 2012)
The idea behind this method is that in addition to the product development process, a startup also needs a customer development process to find and understand its customers. This method leads to the development of solutions that are based on an approach that focuses primarily on the user and their needs. This process assumes that startups have untested hypotheses about their business model. They do not know exactly who the customers are, what functionality they want, what communication channel to use, and many other areas that they do not know. The key approach is to “go among the people as early as possible” and get their direct feedback. (Maurya, 2012).