The document discusses agile product development for smaller charities. It covers defining problems, developing minimum viable products (MVPs), scaling solutions iteratively, and common mistakes like failing to plan for contingencies. The overall message is that agile development allows charities to start small, test solutions, and build upon what works in a flexible manner.

1. Building as you go – product
1
development at smaller charities

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Who are MQ?

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Meet Teresa...

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What we’re going to cover
o What is ‘agile product development’?
o How to convince your FD to try agile
o Where to start in defining a product
o The power of the MVP!
o Scaling & building as you go
o My biggest mistakes...

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What is ‘agile product development’?
1. Flexible
2. User-focused
3. Starts small & scale (iterative)

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How to convince your organisation to try agile
1. It reduces risk & waste
2. It allows for change
3. You build the most important
things first
4. Or... give it a go & share what
you learn

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Where to start when defining a new product
REMEMBER: YOU ARE NOT THE ‘CUSTOMER’
Identify the problem – and ask these three questions:
• Is it actually a problem?
• How are people solving it already?
• Are you the right people to tackle it?

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Where to start when defining a new product
Identify the problem: → Researchers struggle to recruit
MQ supporters want to shape research
• Is it actually a problem? → MQ researchers ask for our help
MQ supporters want ways to engage
• How are people solving it? → Gumtree/Facebook ads
• Are you right to tackle it? → Fits our strategic goals

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The power of the MVP!

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The power of the MVP!

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The power of the MVP!
120 studies listed
50% visits
organic

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How to scale

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Building as you go
• Roll up your sleeves and get bid
writing!
• Get the team on board
• Identify alternative funding
sources
• Consider phased funding

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Funding sources

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Where next?
www.participate.mqmentalhealth.org

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My biggest mistakes
• Don’t forget contingency
• Keep on top of data & legal
• Spend time getting board buy-in
• Don’t try and be a superhero...

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Thank you! Questions?
@KathrynExcell
kexcell@mqmentalhealth.org

18. The charity digital
conference
20 November 2019
London
#charitydigital
Sponsored by

19. Visit the CharityComms website to view
slides from past events, see what events
we have coming up and to check out
what else we do:
www.charitycomms.org.uk